Oct. 9, 2001

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Kansas State men's golf team rebounded in the final round Tuesday to tie for eighth place in the Purina Classic at the Missouri Bluff Golf Course. The Wildcats posted a season-best team score of 285 to finish with a tournament total of 870, just 13 strokes back of first-place Arkansas State's total of 857.

Sophomore Aaron Watkins led the way for K-State, firing a career-best 3-under-par 68 in the final round to tie for sixth with a three-round total of even-par 213. Senior Matt Williams finished off a consistent tournament with a 71 in Tuesday's round to tie for 14th with a 3-over-par 216.

Senior Bryan Milberger tied for 34th after tallying a 221 for the tournament, and sophomore A.J. Elgert posted a total of 224 to tie for 51st. Redshirt junior Mark Sprecker completed his first road trip with the Wildcats, carding a three-round total of 226 to tie for 58th place. Freshman Dusty King competed as an individual, tying for 83rd with a 245.

Arkansas State jumped from fifth place with a smoking final-round total of 4-under-par 280 to win the team title. Wixson Huffstetler set the pace for Arkansas State, tying Missouri's Mark McBride for first in the individual race with a 6-under-par 207.

The Wildcats will be on the road again next week at the Crown Colony Invitational, slated for Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 15-16) at the Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin, Texas.

For complete results of the Purina Classic, visit the Missouri Tiger's Web site at www.mutigers.com.