The K-State men’s golf team has extreme disparity in their positives and negatives after two rounds in Columbus, Ohio.
Results from the Jack Nicklaus Invitational could evoke mixed emotions for fans of the Wildcats today. On the bright side for the team, sophomore Matt Green sits alone in first place with just one round left to play.
Green started the day by firing a 3-under par 69 in the first round of the tournament. He had four bogeys in his second round, but was able to limit the damage by carding two birdies on the back nine. Green leads his competition by one stroke.
The dark side of the tournament for head coach Grant Robbins’ team is that they are currently in 11th of 12 teams. They lead last place Northern Illinois by three strokes. Overall, Ohio State leads the tournament, 28 strokes ahead of K-State.
Freshman Trent Evans was the best of the Wildcats not named Matt Green on Sunday. Evans is 10-over par and is tied for 43rd after his first two rounds. Sophomore Seth Smith trails Evans by three strokes and is tied for 54th.
Sophomores Hank Simpson and Connor Knabe close out the Wildcats’ scorecard. Simpson shot a 157, 15 stokes over par. He is tied for 58th going into the final round. Knabe was 20-over par at 162. He battled back and was seven strokes better in his second round, but is still in 65th.
The Wildcats will resume play at 8 a.m. at the Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course.
The women’s golf team will begin their third tournament of the season today at the Johnie Imes Invitational in Columbia, Missouri. Coach Kristi Knight’s squad will begin their rounds in the Johnie Imes Invitational at 8:15 a.m.
The Wildcats’ competition includes local teams such as Wichita State and Missouri as well as teams from as far away as Florida. K-State is the lone Big 12 team.
The Wildcats’ scoring lineup only includes one freshman for the first time this season. Connie Jaffrey is the first-year player who gets the nod, while Chandler Gallagher will sit out the tournament.
The scorecard also includes seniors Olivia Eliasson and Carly Ragains, as well as sophomores Madison Talley and Katherine Gravel-Coursol. Junior Scotland Preston will compete as in individual in the tournament.
