SE: Talent, Culture Coming Together for K-State Men's Golf
Sep 11, 2017 | Men's Golf, Sports Extra
Grant Robbins can see it starting to come together. The talent paired with the characteristics of a successful culture, a combination the fourth-year head coach for K-State men's golf knows well, seem to be melding for the Wildcats.
"We're starting to see the culture of the program and the team shift. This year, I think it's really starting to take shape. Guys are really being bought in and it's just neat seeing the improvement of the guys, year to year," said Robbins, whose resume prior to K-State included three coach of the year honors in two conferences and six NCAA Regional appearances. "It's just the accountability and the mindset of doing the little things to be the best. It's a process and each year it's gotten a little better. I think we're finally starting to get it where we want it."
K-State, which opened its season on Sunday with the first round of the Badger Invitational in Verona, Wisconsin, returns its three top scorers from a year ago in sophomore Jacob Eklund (73.42), junior Jeremy Gandon (73.47) and junior Roland Massimino (73.75). Ben Fernandez (75.25), who played in seven events as a freshman last season, also returns for his sophomore campaign as one of the most improved Wildcats, Robbins said.
"The two guys who have made the biggest strides are Roland and Ben. Roland's just getting more mature and more consistent. And Jake's really matured over the last year. Being a sophomore this year, he's starting to play with a lot more confidence," Robbins said of Eklund, who set a Manhattan Country Club course record last week with a 9-under 61 in one of the Wildcats' qualifying practices. "The guys coming back are improved from last year and we have a good group that's come in and made it more competitive."
The Wildcats, tied for 14th entering the second day of Wisconsin's three-day tournament, added four newcomers to their roster, including two with Division I experience.
J.C. Campbell, a junior transfer out of Memphis, and Connor Chesky, a redshirt freshman transfer out of South Carolina, should add to a competitive roster. While neither made the trip for the Wildcats' season-opening tournament, Robbins expects them to be a factor for the team as the season progresses.
"There's always an adjustment period coming in. The returning guys have a big advantage because they know the golf courses," he said. "They're very talented and I think once they get comfortable with the course and get more of an equal footing that they'll work their way into the lineup at some point."
Kyle Vance and Brian Choe make up the Wildcats' freshmen class. Vance, out of Methacton High School in Pennsylvania, was ranked as the No. 13 recruit in the Class of 207 by AJGA Golf Rankings and brings a successful resume to Manhattan. Choe came in as the seventh-ranked player in the state of Texas, according to Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard.
Matthieu Caron, a redshirt freshman, also joins the fold for the Wildcats. The native of France shot a 2-under par 70 on Sunday and sits in a tie for sixth individually.
"This is definitely the deepest team that I've had since I've been here. Each year, you're increasing and you're bringing in talented players. You can tell the difference in the talent level and then they're competing against each other, which is good," said Robbins, using one of the team's qualifying practices, when Eklund and Massimino tied for first at 12-under, as evidence of growth. "That's definitely the best it's been since I've been here."
Even more, Robbins said the group's enjoyable to coach. Everyone is on the same page and everyone is pushing toward better results.
"They're just really good kids. They're fun to be around and it's fun when they want to be good and they're working hard," he said. "The goal for us is just to keep improving, day to day and tournament by tournament. We'll see where we are at the end, but I like where we're headed, for sure."
"We're starting to see the culture of the program and the team shift. This year, I think it's really starting to take shape. Guys are really being bought in and it's just neat seeing the improvement of the guys, year to year," said Robbins, whose resume prior to K-State included three coach of the year honors in two conferences and six NCAA Regional appearances. "It's just the accountability and the mindset of doing the little things to be the best. It's a process and each year it's gotten a little better. I think we're finally starting to get it where we want it."
K-State, which opened its season on Sunday with the first round of the Badger Invitational in Verona, Wisconsin, returns its three top scorers from a year ago in sophomore Jacob Eklund (73.42), junior Jeremy Gandon (73.47) and junior Roland Massimino (73.75). Ben Fernandez (75.25), who played in seven events as a freshman last season, also returns for his sophomore campaign as one of the most improved Wildcats, Robbins said.
"The two guys who have made the biggest strides are Roland and Ben. Roland's just getting more mature and more consistent. And Jake's really matured over the last year. Being a sophomore this year, he's starting to play with a lot more confidence," Robbins said of Eklund, who set a Manhattan Country Club course record last week with a 9-under 61 in one of the Wildcats' qualifying practices. "The guys coming back are improved from last year and we have a good group that's come in and made it more competitive."
The Wildcats, tied for 14th entering the second day of Wisconsin's three-day tournament, added four newcomers to their roster, including two with Division I experience.
J.C. Campbell, a junior transfer out of Memphis, and Connor Chesky, a redshirt freshman transfer out of South Carolina, should add to a competitive roster. While neither made the trip for the Wildcats' season-opening tournament, Robbins expects them to be a factor for the team as the season progresses.
"There's always an adjustment period coming in. The returning guys have a big advantage because they know the golf courses," he said. "They're very talented and I think once they get comfortable with the course and get more of an equal footing that they'll work their way into the lineup at some point."
Kyle Vance and Brian Choe make up the Wildcats' freshmen class. Vance, out of Methacton High School in Pennsylvania, was ranked as the No. 13 recruit in the Class of 207 by AJGA Golf Rankings and brings a successful resume to Manhattan. Choe came in as the seventh-ranked player in the state of Texas, according to Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard.
Matthieu Caron, a redshirt freshman, also joins the fold for the Wildcats. The native of France shot a 2-under par 70 on Sunday and sits in a tie for sixth individually.
"This is definitely the deepest team that I've had since I've been here. Each year, you're increasing and you're bringing in talented players. You can tell the difference in the talent level and then they're competing against each other, which is good," said Robbins, using one of the team's qualifying practices, when Eklund and Massimino tied for first at 12-under, as evidence of growth. "That's definitely the best it's been since I've been here."
Even more, Robbins said the group's enjoyable to coach. Everyone is on the same page and everyone is pushing toward better results.
"They're just really good kids. They're fun to be around and it's fun when they want to be good and they're working hard," he said. "The goal for us is just to keep improving, day to day and tournament by tournament. We'll see where we are at the end, but I like where we're headed, for sure."
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