Kluver wins, Sooners tie for team title at Ka’anapali Classic

Final results:

LAHAINA, Hawai’i – Luke Kluver claimed medalist honors as No. 6 Oklahoma shared the team title at the Ka’anapali Classic on Saturday to close the Sooners’ fall slate. It was OU’s second consecutive title at the event held annually at Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course in Lahaina, Hawai’i.

OU (T1, -42) rallied from five back to erase Liberty’s lead and claim a piece of the team crown along with East Tennessee State at the par-71, 6,700-yard course. The co-championship secured the 13th consecutive full semester that head coach Ryan Hybl’s team has won at least one event – the longest streak in program history.

“I’m really proud to cap off the fall season like that,” Kluver said. “I’ve felt really good about my game all fall and I was just waiting for a moment to put it all together. I can’t begin to express how moments like this are created daily for myself and my teammates here and at home. All of our coaches are constantly challenging us to win. I’m really thrilled to feel the excited of winning a golf tournament again.”

Kluver (1, -18) was the tournament’s best golfer all week, but his nine birdies on Saturday separated him from the 20-team field. His 64 (-7) in the final round was a small improvement on his 66-65 to open the week, totaling a 195 (-18), good for the fifth-lowest score vs. par in Oklahoma history, trailing only Abraham Ancer (-21), as well as Quade Cummins, Chris Gotterup and Max McGreevy (all -20).

“I don’t see myself nearly as accomplished as those names mentioned,” Kluver, who transferred to OU from Kansas last season, added. “But guys like that are the reason I came to Oklahoma. Those guys are the backbone of our program. I want to be in their shoes, playing professionally and when I am around my teammates and coaches, I know that I’m going in the right direction. It’s been a long year for me on the golf course, but I found a way to trust my game and the people around me to get me back to this point.”

Kluver’s strong week powered the Sooners to their 40th team title under head coach Ryan Hybl, who took over at OU in 2009. The Sooners posted rounds of 272-267-271 to claim the title. OU’s 42-under-par score was the program’s fifth-best 54-hole mark ever, four of which have come in the last four seasons.

“As a team, we got behind schedule with our first round, but that put us in position to scrape and claw our way back into the tournament,” Hybl said. “We were able to do that, and I’m proud of the guys for fighting their way back into it. I thought Luke was solid all week and a final round score of 64 is special. He has all the tools to be one of the best players in the country.”

Stephen Campbell Jr. and Drew Goodman shared 24th on the leaderboard, finishing at 6-under. Ryder Cowan and Jake Holbrook both earned a piece of 40th at 4-under par.

Playing unattached as individuals, Jase Summy signed for a 65 (-6) on Saturday to finish eighth, while freshman PJ Maybank III grabbed 20th at 7-under.

“I thought we were inconsistent at times this fall,” Hybl continued. “But that’s an opportunity as we get into the offseason. Our two freshman (Cowan and Maybank) have shown great signs this fall and they’ll be big-time players for us in the spring.”

OU’s title at Ka’anapali was its fourth all-time at the tournament and second consecutive, as the Sooners now have wins in 2015, 2019, 2022 and 2023. The event wrapped up OU’s fall slate that saw OU post four straight top-five finishes, including a runner-up finish at the Husky Invitational along with Saturday’s win. The Sooners also produced the best hole differential and a 4-1 record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship.

OU now looks toward the winter offseason before it gets back in action on Feb. 11-13 at the Puerto Rico Classic, where it won the team title last season.