Kansas State golfer Luke O'Neill qualifies for NCAA Championship; Wildcats fall short
The Kansas State men's golf team made a late charge Wednesday in the Bath (Michigan) Regional, only to fall three shots short of qualifying for its first-ever NCAA Championship berth.
The good news for the Wildcats was that Luke O'Neill qualified as an individual.
K-State shot 3-under-par 281 at Eagle Eye Golf Club, to finish sixth with a three-day total of 7-under 845. Texas claimed the fifth and final team qualifying slot at 842.
O'Neill, a junior from Connemara, Ireland, tied for second with a 54-hole total of 7-under-par 206 and thus advanced to nationals as the top finisher from a non-qualifying team. He birdied the par-4 ninth hole — his final hole of the day — to claim the spot by one stroke.
"I'm extremely proud of Luke," K-State coach Grant Robbins said. "He's been working extremely hard, and he's been gaining more and more confidence each time out.
More: Kansas State men's golf team qualifies for NCAA regionals for second straight year
"It's nice to see him be rewarded by getting a chance to play in the national championship."
O'Neill is the fourth player in school history to advance to the NCAA Championship and the first since PGA Tour member Robert Streb in 2006. He was consistent throughout the regional, shooting 68 on Monday, 69 Tuesday and a 3-under 69 again in the final round.
The individual medalist was Ben Van Wyk of team champion Georgia at 10-under 203. O'Neill tied Illinois' Adam Dumont de Chassart and Georgia's Caleb Manuel for second. Georgia won the team title with a 29-under 823 total, followed by Illinois (831), Oregon (838), Florida (840) and Texas (842).
K-State started Wednesday tied with Florida for sixth place in the team standings, seven shots off the pace for the final qualifying spot. Florida shot 276 on Wednesday to climb into fourth place while Michigan State dropped out of the top five to seventh.
"I'm really proud of this group," Robbins said of his team. "They gave it everything they had this week, and we just came up three shots short.
"It's been a phenomenal year. Today stings quite a bit, but we will be able to look back and be extremely proud of everything we've accomplished."
K-State's No. 2 finisher was Will Hopkins, who moved up 17 spots with a 69 Wednesday to tie for 25th. Cooper Schultz and Nicklaus Mason tied for 43rd at 218.
Tim Tillmanns, who was tied for 21st at 2-under through the first two rounds, did not play Wednesday because of an injury, but replacement Laurenz Schiergen filled in capably with an even-par 71.
O'Neill will move on to the NCAA Championship on Friday, May 26, in Scottsdale, Arizona. After single rounds of stroke play Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the field will be cut to 15 teams and the top nine individuals from non-advancing teams.
The individual champion will be crowned on Monday, May 29, while the final eight teams advance to match play.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State men's golfer Luke O'Neill qualifies for NCAA Championship
