LAKELAND, Fla. - For the second time this year, senior Matt Van Cleave completed all 54 holes of a tournament and walked away asking himself, what if’? Just like at the Kansas Invitational, Van Cleave ended the Matlock Invitational in a tie for first, without the opportunity for a playoff. Despite Van Cleave’s final-round score of 71 (-1), Missouri’s Ben Scott carded a 3-under 69 to tie Van Cleave at the par-72, 7,065-yard Grasslands Golf and Country Club. Van Cleave finished the tournament with a 54-hole score of 4-under par 70-71-71212.

As a team, Kansas State fired a final-round 294 and finished in third with a team score of 291-298-294883 (+19), nine strokes back of second-place Georgia College and State. In spite of the fact that K-State carded a lower third-round than second-round score, the Wildcats couldn’t overcome the final-round surge of host Florida Southern. The Mocs fired a 5-under 283 to supplant Georgia College and State from the lead.

The Wildcats’ third-place finish is their second-best outing of the season, and two spots better than last year’s fifth-place finish at the Matlock. K-State’s best finish this season is the Kansas Invitational, where the Wildcats finished second.

Senior Nick Schumacher pieced together the best tournament of his career. Schumacher earned his first-career top 10, as he tied for 10th with a 73-74-73220 (+4). The Lubbock, Texas, product continues to play the best golf of his career, as he led the field in par-3 scoring with an average score of 2.92.

Junior Ben Kern garnered his third consecutive top-15 finish, and fourth top 20 of the season. Kern fired a 71-76-77224 (+8) and tied for 15th.

Rounding out the lineup for the Wildcats were juniors Tyler Cummins and Jonathan James. Cummins fired a final-round 1-over 73 to move up the leaderboard and finish in a tie 41st at 230 (80-77-73). James fired a 54-hole score of 77-79-80236 and tied for 62nd.  

The Wildcats next tournament is the Dick Witcoff/South Florida Invitational March 4-6 in Tampa, Fla. For complete tournament results, please visit Kansas State’s website at www.k-statesports.com.

Men’s Collegiate Golf

The Matlock Invitational

Lakeland, Fla.

Grasslands Golf & Country Club

Par: 72; Yardage: 7,065

Team Scores: 1. Florida Southern, 297-292-283872; 2. Georgia College & State, 289-299-286874; 3. Kansas State, 291-298-294883; 4. Missouri 295-297-292884; 5. Rollins College, 302-301-288891; 6. Lynn University, 297-305-293895; T7. Tenn.-Chattanooga, 304-305-291900; T7. Old Dominion, 303-307-290900; 9. Middle Tennessee State, 305-299-300904; 10. Va. Commonwealth, 305-302-304911; ; 11. Barry University, 312-302-302916; 12. Valdosta State, 316-317-289922; 13. Texas-Pan American, 312-316-295923; 14. West Georgia, 305-325-302932; 15. Francis Marion, 322-309-305936.

Top Individuals: T1. Matt Van Cleave, (K-State) 70-71-71212 (-4); T1. Ben Scott, (Missouri) 70-73-69212 (-4); 3. Carter Collins, (Georgia College and State) 71-71-71213 (-3); 4. Greg Koch, (Florida Southern) 71-72-71214 (-2); 5. Gordon Strother, (Tenn.-Chattanooga) 75-70-70215 (-1).

Wildcat Individuals: T15. Ben Kern, 71-76-77224 (+8); T10. Nick Schumacher, 73-74-73220 (+4); T62. Jonathan James, 77-79-80236 (+20); T41. Tyler Cummins, 80-77-73230 (+14).