Cowboys open in third at Fighting Illini Invite
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — Oklahoma State’s men’s golf team posted a 287 during its opening round at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational on Friday to stand alone in third place at Olympia Fields Country Club.
The Cowboys’ 7-over score put them seven shots off the pace of Texas A&M for second place at the par-70, 7,353-yard layout. Tournament host Illinois fired a 6-under 274 to claim the top spot on the leaderboard.
Texas A&M and Illinois produced the day’s individual leaders with A&M’s Cameron Champ and the Illini’s Bryan Baumgarten carding matching 65s to stand two shots clear of the field.
Junior Sam Stevens led the OSU starting five, turning in a 1-under 69 to come in tied for sixth place. Stevens got going quickly with an eagle at the par-5 first. He then countered a bogey at the fourth with a birdie at the fifth to turn at 2-under 33. A par at the sixth started a run of 10 consecutive pars before ending his string with a bogey at the 16th. Stevens closed his round with pars at Nos. 17 and 18.
Sophomore Hayden Wood posted a 72 during his opening round to come in tied for 16th place.
Finishing a stroke back with 73s and tied for 23rd place were sophomores Nick Heinen and Zach Bauchou.
Senior Zachary Olsen carded a 77 to end the day tied for 60th place.
The Cowboys will begin their second round tomorrow morning at 8:45 a.m. (CST) and will be grouped with Illinois and Texas A&M.