Gudgel makes triumphant return from wrist surgery, wins Saguaro Amateur

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Grant Gudgel, who just months ago was wondering if he would ever play competitive golf again after a complicated second wrist surgery, reemerged in triumphant fashion with a four-shot victory in the 54-hole Saguaro Amateur at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Gudgel, the 2022 Class 6A state champion from Stillwater High School who sat out the fall of his freshman season at Oklahoma State, shot rounds of 63-67-71 for a 9-under total of 201 to finish four shots ahead of Davis Johnson of Scottsdale.

The final round was played in 35 mph winds that so dried out the greens that play was interrupted for the greens to be watered to prevent balls from rolling off while players attempted to putt.

Gudgel had surgery in June to remove for the second time a ganglion cyst in his right wrist. He was unable to make full swings until October and didn’t compete until last week’s Sonaran Amateur in which he tied for fourth.

“Grant showed what a gamer he is,” said OSU coach Alan Bratton. “All that time between competitive events and he rolls out and plays back to back events finishing 4th and 1st. He’s had a great attitude through the whole process and has worked really hard. Excited to see him when he gets back and to watch him continue to build momentum.”

“I’m really, really proud of him,” said his father Eric Gudgel, who watched every shot. “There were some dark days when he really didn’t know if he would be able to play again. The surgeon, Dr. Clay Nelson of Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, did a great job and we took the rehab much slower this time. He spent four months where really all he could work on was his short game and his short game was beautiful, it really is why he won the event.”

Gudgel’s last event before the surgery was the 2024 Class 6A state championship at the Oaks Country Club in which he finished 17 shots behind winner Preston Albee and was clearly struggling to generate power. Eric said that is no longer an issue.

Gudgel was joined in the Saguaro Amateur by several other Oklahoma players. Rhett Hughes of Oklahoma City tied for 10^th at even par. OSU teammate Johnnie Clark tied for 24^th at 4-over. Collin Bond of Norman and Oklahoma tied for 40^th at 8-over as did Bryant Polhill of Edmond and Kansas State. Quinn Robertson of Norman tied for 101^st.