Sept. 8, 2001

Manhattan, Kan. - The Kansas State men's golf team opens its fall schedule Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 10-11 at the Fairway Club Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. The Wildcats are coming off an eighth-place showing at the Big 12 Conference Championship, their best finish since 1997, the league's inaugural year.

The 54-hole event, being held at Firethorn Golf Club, features a 14-team field with Big 12 schools Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas and Missouri taking part. In the lineup for the team's first trip will be seniors Bryan Milberger and Matt Williams, junior Tim Moody, and sophomores Aaron Watkins and A.J. Elgert. Junior Scott McNeely will be along for the ride to compete as an individual.

Milberger will be looking to claim his second consecutive title at the event, after winning his first collegiate title at the 2000 edition of the tournament. The Olathe, Kan., native posted rounds of 74-69-71, for a tournament total of one-over-par 214. It was the first time a Wildcat had won an event since Mark Sears claimed top honors at the Wildcat Intercollegiate on Oct. 10, 1998. With Milberger leading the way, K-State finished fifth out of 12 teams with a team total of 905.

Williams will also be ready to compete after an extremely impressive summer campaign. The Holton, Kan., native won the 2001 Kansas Amateur, making him the first Wildcat to claim the title since Jim Colbert won in 1965. The senior co-captain also competed at the U.S. Amateur Championship in Atlanta, Ga.

"It's a demanding golf course," said fifth-year head coach Tim Norris. "Playing this course (Colbert Hills) every day has helped the guys learn to appreciate pars and stay patient, and that is really going to help us out in Nebraska."