Albee, Bonaobra, Manly, Chaney, Plank among state golf signees

By Ken MacLeod

Preston Albee of Choctaw, the reigning Class 6A state champion, signed to play collegiate golf at the University of Oklahoma Wednesday, becoming the latest in a string of home grown talent to join the Sooners that includes current team members Drew Goodman, Ryder Cowan, Jaxon Dowell, Cameron Cheek and Jake Hopper.

Other state players who have excelled on the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour and in state high school and junior events signed as well Wednesday.

Samuel Bonaobra, the 2024 Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour points leader with three victories in 10 events, signed to play at Drake University. Bonaobra won the Oak Tree Junior Classic, Talor Gooch John Conrad Fall Classic and Bailey Ranch Bash and had four other top-five finishes in a dominant year on the junior circuit.

Benton Manly of Regent Preparatory School in Tulsa, who finished second to Bonaobra on the OJGT points list, signed with Furman, based in Greenville, S.C.

Furman coach Matt Davidson said he was thrilled with the signings of Manly and Cameron Reed of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

“We couldn’t be more excited to officially welcome Cameron and Benton to the Furman golf family today,” said Davidson.  “They both stood out early in the process for us and have been verbally committed for some time.  The thing we are most excited about is not only are they both very accomplished junior golfers with great results, but they both have the work ethic and physical tools to continue to grow every year as players.  Most importantly, they will also be great additions to the team, and Furman as a whole, as people and students. We can’t wait for them to get to campus next fall.”

Among Manly’s accomplishments:

• Rolex Ranking #1 in Oklahoma for 2025 class
• Runner-up in match play at the 2024 Oklahoma State Junior; stroke play runner-up (65-73)
• Winner of five Oklahoma Junior Tour golf events
• Won the OJGT Fall finale (66-66)
• Recorded five AJGA top-10 finishes
• Placed fourth at the AJGA Bass Pro Shop (75-68-69)
• Finished third at the 2023 Sugar Bowl (71-72)
• Runner-up at the 2022 Sugar Bowl (70-72)
• Qualified for two U.S. Juniors

Among other signings Wednesday, Class 4A state champion Jace Chaney of Ardmore signed with Wichita State University. Chaney’s sister Reagan plays for the University of Oklahoma and his father Wesley is the Director of Golf/GM at Dornick Hills in Ardmore.

Chaney won six high school tournaments and had 31 top-10 finishes in junior events in his career, including a seventh-place finish in the Talor Gooch Foundation AJGA event at Gaillardia in Oklahoma City. He was 14th in the PGA National High School Invitational at PGA Frisco.

Two OJGT competitors Carson Scrymgeour of Jenks and Ian Wilcoxen of Owasso, signed with Northeastern State University. Wilcoxen is the brother of current NSU golfer Brett and the son of PGA professional Brent Wilcoxen of South Lakes Golf Course in Jenks.

Scrymgeour, who has shown vast improvement in the past two years, is the son of former Oral Roberts University golfer and former PGA professional Rory Scrymgeour.

Frequent OJGT competitor Meg Tilma of Wichita is now a member of the Oklahoma women’s golf team.

Reagan Plank of Owasso, who won the Lake Hefner Fall Challenge on the OJGT Tour this fall, signed with the University of Central Oklahoma. Plank finished third in the OJGT Girls Points Race behind Harlow Gregory and Cara Cummins.

Brock Jerman of Chickasha, who finished 12th in the OJGT standings for 2024, signed with the University of Central Oklahoma. Jerman also qualified for the Southern Junior Cup in Alabama and for the match play portion of the Oklahoma State Amateur Championship.

Sophia Lefler, one of the top players for Jenks High School, signed with Lindenwood University based in St. Louis.

This story will be updated as we learn of more signings, please send any we have missed to ken@golfoklahoma.org.