Cats Win Third Straight Championship at Oregon State Invitational
CORVALLIS, Ore. (Kansas State Athletics) – The Kansas State men’s golf team continued its historic start to the season at the Oregon State Invitational as the Wildcats captured a third-consecutive team title on Tuesday, running away with the victory by finishing at 3-under par 849.
The victory made history as it is the first time ever a Wildcat team has won three-consecutive titles. The three wins are also the most ever in a fall slate and already ranks as third-most wins in a single season.
K-State began the day at the par-71, 7,384-yard Trysting Tree Golf Club by putting the final touches on a 6-under par 278 second round.
That score moved the Wildcats into the lead, and they would never let it go.
The final round saw K-State shoot a 2-over par 286 to extend its advantage and clinch the championship by 13 strokes over the second place finisher, Washington State.
Four Wildcats finished in the top-10, and once again, all five scoring lineup members were in the top-20 for a third-straight time. That’s the first time in school history it has been done in three-consecutive tournaments.
K-State was led by Nicklaus Mason, who finished in a tie for third place at 2-under par 211.
Mason was nails in the late part of his second round, carding three birdies in his last six holes to finish the round at 3-under par 68. It was a key stretch to get K-State the lead and move him into the top-five.
The sophomore from Shawnee, Kansas would go on to hold his spot near the top of the standings with a 2-over par 73 final round.
This is Mason’s third top-five finish of his young career and second of this season, which now leads the team. Mason also leads the team in under-par rounds with six.
Will Hopkins tied for sixth place at even-par 213 following a 1-under par 70 second round and an even-par 71 final round. This was another incredible performance for the veteran who just made his 35th career appearance.
Finishing in a tie for ninth place at 1-over par 214 was the two Cologne, Germany natives, Tim Tillmanns and Laurenz Schiergen.
This is now the 10th career top-10 finish for Tillmanns, who came up with two birdies on the final two holes of his second round to finish the round at 1-under par 70. The senior then fired an even-par 71 final round.
Schiergen also carded 1-under par 70 second round, before registering a 3-over par 74 third round. It’s the third career top-five finish for the sophomore.
Cooper Schultz played his part in the championship with back-to-back 1-under par 71 rounds to jump up 22 spots and finish tied for 17th place at 4-over par 217.
Luke O’Neill, who was competing this week as an individual, tied for 23rd place at 5-over par 218. He shot a 2-over par 73 final round after finishing off a 3-over par second round.
The Wildcats won’t be able to celebrate the win for too long as a short turnaround lies ahead. They are set to conclude the fall slate October 17-19 at the Big 12 Match Play Championship.
