K-State, Schultz Tied for Third Through 36 Holes
Feb 10, 2025 | Men's Golf
MOBILE, Ala. – Kansas State senior men's golfer Cooper Schultz began his spring season by recording a pair of rounds in the 60s to lead the Kansas State men's golf team over the first 36 holes of the Hal Williams Collegiate on Monday held at the par-71, 7,059-yard RTJ Magnolia Grove Golf Club.
Schultz is one of three players tied for third place at 7-under par 135. The Wildcats also have another player in the top 10 in senior Nicklaus Mason, who is tied for 10th place at 4-under par 138.
As a team, the Wildcats are tied for third place with Memphis at 11-under par 557, just one shot behind second-place Kent State. Kansas State turned in its best gross score of the season at 9-under par 275, four shots better than the second round of the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational in October. The Wildcats totaled 36 birdies on the day, three shy of team leader SMU.
"I thought we played pretty well overall," head coach Grant Robbins said. "We got off to a really hot start, but we weren't able to finish the first round like we wanted. In the second round, I thought we hit a lot of quality shots, but we just weren't able to convert enough of what I call the momentum putts from about 4-6 feet. We are in a good spot going into tomorrow. The guys are playing well. We just need to put up five solid rounds and see what happens."
Schultz, a senior from Andover, Kansas, tallied a 3-under par 68 in the first round and backed that up with a round of 4-under par 67 in the afternoon as he now has six rounds in the 60s this season and 29 in his career. His tally of 135 over the first 36 holes tied a career best that he originally set his redshirt freshman season at the Old Town Intercollegiate. Schultz carded 10 birdies over his two rounds, which ranks fourth in the 75-man field.
"It was good to see Cooper have a nice day," said Robbins. "He had been struggling a little bit with his ballstriking coming into this week, but he went out there today and just competed and put together two really solid rounds."
A senior from Shawnee, Kansas, Mason turned in a 4-under par 67 in the morning before going even par over his second 18 holes. His morning 18 was his 21st collegiate round in the 60s, the sixth this season and the fourth straight dating back to the fall finale.
Freshman Fionn Dobbin and senior Kobe Valociek are tied for 36th place at even-par 142. Dobbin, a native of Lisburn, Northern Ireland, recorded a 2-under par 69 in the morning, which was one stroke shy of his collegiate low and his third round in the 60s this season. Valociek went even par in both rounds as he is tied for second in the field by going a collective 2-under par on the difficult par 3s.
Senior Ian McCrary enters Tuesday's final round tied for 65th place at 6-over par 148, which included a first-round score of even par. Playing as an individual, freshman Tyler Strong is tied for 70th place at 7-over par 149. A product of Olathe, Kansas, Strong recorded a 1-over par 72 in the first round, which was tied for the second-best score of his young collegiate career.
SMU, which ranks 15th in the nation, holds an eight-shot lead entering the final 18 holes of play at 20-over par 548. The Mustangs also have the top player on the individual leaderboard Zachary Kingsland at 12-under par 130. Texas State's Jack Burke is in second place at 9-under par 133, two shots ahead of Schultz and the other two individuals tied for third place.
The final round of the Hal Williams Collegiate begins Tuesday morning with an 8 a.m. shotgun start as the Wildcats will be paired with SMU and Kent State. Live results can be viewed on SCOREBOARD Powered by Clippd.
Schultz is one of three players tied for third place at 7-under par 135. The Wildcats also have another player in the top 10 in senior Nicklaus Mason, who is tied for 10th place at 4-under par 138.
As a team, the Wildcats are tied for third place with Memphis at 11-under par 557, just one shot behind second-place Kent State. Kansas State turned in its best gross score of the season at 9-under par 275, four shots better than the second round of the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational in October. The Wildcats totaled 36 birdies on the day, three shy of team leader SMU.
"I thought we played pretty well overall," head coach Grant Robbins said. "We got off to a really hot start, but we weren't able to finish the first round like we wanted. In the second round, I thought we hit a lot of quality shots, but we just weren't able to convert enough of what I call the momentum putts from about 4-6 feet. We are in a good spot going into tomorrow. The guys are playing well. We just need to put up five solid rounds and see what happens."
Schultz, a senior from Andover, Kansas, tallied a 3-under par 68 in the first round and backed that up with a round of 4-under par 67 in the afternoon as he now has six rounds in the 60s this season and 29 in his career. His tally of 135 over the first 36 holes tied a career best that he originally set his redshirt freshman season at the Old Town Intercollegiate. Schultz carded 10 birdies over his two rounds, which ranks fourth in the 75-man field.
"It was good to see Cooper have a nice day," said Robbins. "He had been struggling a little bit with his ballstriking coming into this week, but he went out there today and just competed and put together two really solid rounds."
A senior from Shawnee, Kansas, Mason turned in a 4-under par 67 in the morning before going even par over his second 18 holes. His morning 18 was his 21st collegiate round in the 60s, the sixth this season and the fourth straight dating back to the fall finale.
Freshman Fionn Dobbin and senior Kobe Valociek are tied for 36th place at even-par 142. Dobbin, a native of Lisburn, Northern Ireland, recorded a 2-under par 69 in the morning, which was one stroke shy of his collegiate low and his third round in the 60s this season. Valociek went even par in both rounds as he is tied for second in the field by going a collective 2-under par on the difficult par 3s.
Senior Ian McCrary enters Tuesday's final round tied for 65th place at 6-over par 148, which included a first-round score of even par. Playing as an individual, freshman Tyler Strong is tied for 70th place at 7-over par 149. A product of Olathe, Kansas, Strong recorded a 1-over par 72 in the first round, which was tied for the second-best score of his young collegiate career.
SMU, which ranks 15th in the nation, holds an eight-shot lead entering the final 18 holes of play at 20-over par 548. The Mustangs also have the top player on the individual leaderboard Zachary Kingsland at 12-under par 130. Texas State's Jack Burke is in second place at 9-under par 133, two shots ahead of Schultz and the other two individuals tied for third place.
The final round of the Hal Williams Collegiate begins Tuesday morning with an 8 a.m. shotgun start as the Wildcats will be paired with SMU and Kent State. Live results can be viewed on SCOREBOARD Powered by Clippd.
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How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Men's Golf, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Men's Golf, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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