Valociek Dominates 18 Holes, Tied for First Place – Kansas State University Athletics Update

LA QUINTA, Calif. – Kansas State’s senior golfer, Kobe Valociek, had an impressive day at The Prestige, matching his career-low score with a 66. This puts him in a tie for first place after the first round at the Greg Norman Course.
Valociek wasn’t alone at the top; he’s one of three players in the 120-man field who finished at 5-under par. Fellow senior Nicklaus Mason made his mark too, finishing tied for 14th with a score of 2-under par 69.
As a team, the Wildcats ended the first round with a score of even par 284, putting them in a tie for 10th place. They’re close to moving up, just one shot behind a three-way tie for seventh and two shots back from fourth.
Coach Grant Robbins praised Kobe and Nick for their solid performance. He said, “They kept the ball in play and seized their birdie chances. We’re in a good place, but we need to stay patient and stick to our game plan.” There’s still plenty of golf to be played.
Valociek, originally from Peoria, Arizona, started on the back 9, finishing it at 1-under par with two birdies. He then lit up the front 9, going bogey-free and shooting 4-under par. This round ties his best as a collegiate golfer; he achieved this feat three times before, including at last year’s Steelwood Collegiate, where he snagged his first college win.
Mason, from Shawnee, Kansas, had a great day with six birdies. This marks his eighth round in the 60s this season, including four birdies on his first 9 holes.
Looking at other Wildcats, senior Ian McCrary is tied for 78th place at 3-over par 74. Freshman Fionn Dobbin follows closely at 4-over par, tied for 88th. Senior Cooper Schultz had a tough day, ending up tied for 115th place at 9-over par 80.
Meanwhile, freshmen Erik Sabelström Holmberg and Tyler Strong are competing in a separate individual tournament at The Golf Club at Terra Lago. They’re tied for 17th place at 3-over par 75, with Strong impressively finishing his front 9 at 2-under par, with no bogeys.
The Wildcats will continue their play at The Prestige on Tuesday, starting at 9:40 a.m. (PT). You can check the live scores on the SCOREBOARD Powered by Clippd.