Lathrop survives playoff for repeat title in 4A, Carl Albert sweeps 5A, chaotic finish in 3A

Above: Heritage Hall celebrates the Class 4A state title

Complete results of all classes here

By John Rohde

Heritage Hall senior lefthander Ben Lathrop needed one extra hole to claim his second straight Class 4A state individual title.

Before his sudden-death playoff victory over Tuttle senior Bryce Freeman commenced at Winter Creek in Blanchard, Lathrop and his talented teammates had firmly secured the school’s 15^th state crown with a nine-shot victory over Cascia Hall. Defending team champion Oklahoma Christian School, led by individual third-place finisher Ainslie Stanford, finished one stroke back in team play for third place.

Lathrop closed with a 1-under 71 to finish the regulation 54 holes at 9-under 207. Freeman caught him with a final-round of 5-under 67.

As is Lathrop’s way, he literally wasted little time in capturing his second medalist title that followed up his runner-up finishes as a freshman and sophomore at Heritage Hall. After piping his drive on the par-4 No. 1 hole, Lathrop’s approach shot came to rest 2 feet right of the cup.

Lathrop made quick work of his next swing. “I was 115 (yards) out,” he said. “It was the perfect sand wedge (distance) for me. I hit it right at the flag. It felt good. One thing about golf that kills you is overthinking. I’m a very fast player. So I just kind of get the club, go up there and swing.”

“Ben’s the best golfer I’ve ever coached,” longtime Heritage Hall coach Andy Bogert said. “He’s so consistent, so talented. He’s also the fastest golfer I’ve ever coached. He just goes up there and hits it.”

Freeman, who has committed to play at Cameron next season, caught Lathrop atop the leaderboard of a loaded 4A field that also included Community Christian’s Will Whorton, who claimed last year’s 3A title before his school moved up one classification this season.

Freeman’s 25-foot birdie putt in sudden death tracked toward the hole before leaning late to the left to miss by a couple inches. “I tell you, I thought that ball was going in for the longest time,” Bogert said.

Lathrop then tapped in for the win.

Told of Bogert’s assessment that he is the best golfer he’s ever coached. Lathrop smiled and said, “It means a lot for coach to say that. They’ve had a lot of good golfers go through here and to be claimed to be among the best feels pretty good.”

Lathrop freely admits Tuesday’s victory topped winning last year’s individual crown. “It’s a little bit better, because we won as a team,” Lathrop said.

An Oklahoma State signee, Lathrop said he’s ready to trade up his state titles for national titles playing for the powerhouse Cowboys.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be a fun time up there (in Stillwater),” Lathrop said. “It’s a really good program to play for.”

Bogert said of Lathrop, “He’s just impressive. He’s grown up these last two years. I’m telling you, OSU is getting a good golfer.”

Earlier in the day, Class 6A powerhouse Edmond North claimed its 19^th state crown compared to 15 state titles for Heritage Hall.

What would happen if the Class 6A Huskies squared off with the 4A Chargers?

“I think we would have been good competitors,” Latghrop said. “I’m not sure we would have won, but we’re still going to go out there and compete. That’s what the boys do and I’m proud of them for that.”

Bogert admitted his team’s familiarity with Winter Creek undoubtedly was beneficial. “This group has probably played out here 20 times,” he said.

Class 5A at Shangri-La Resort

Midwest City Carl Albert teammates Christopher Crawford and Kathan Pierucci finished 1-2 to lead the Titans to their second state golf title in school history and the first individual title since Talor Gooch won in 2008.

Crawford closed with an 8-under 64 to edge second-round leader Pierucci, who also had a great final round with a 66. Crawford finished at 9-under 207 while Pierucci was at 7-under 209. Rhett Ballou of Egin and defending champion Harrison Shaw of Booker T. Washington were a distant third at 218.

Carl Albert finished 33 shots ahead of Duncan. Booker T. Washington was third.

Class 3A at The Coves Golf Club

Bryce Haddock of Sequoyah Tahlequah won a three-man playoff with a par on the first hole in the Class 3A state championship at The Coves Golf Club in Afton.

Haddock reached the playoff despite a double bogey on the par-3 17th and a bogey on the par-4 18th. Alex Yorman of Rejoice Christian made a triple bogey on the 18th hole after hitting his tee shot out of bounds. And Ethan Evans of Casady, the third man in the playoff, had his issues with those holes playing the back nine first, but finished his round on the front nine, making par on two of the final three holes to reach the playoff.

Bryce Haddock of Sequoyah TahlequahWhile each will regret not winning it outright, the same goes for two golfers who finished a shot back in Brody Boyd of Regent Prep (bogey on 17) and Ross Wyant of Chisholm (bogey-double bogey finish). Fortunately they each hit plenty of good shots throughout before the chaotic finish. Fast greens and a few questionable pins led to the carnage.

Chisholm won the team title by 36 shots over Rejoice Christian.

Class 2A at KickingBird Golf Course in Edmond

Luke Watkins of Crescent closed with a 72 to win the Class 2A individual. Watkins finished five shots ahead of Wyatt Davison of Velma-Alma and six better than Kaleb McAlester of Wilburton.

Okarche won the team title by 39 shots over Velma-Alma to capture the program’s first-ever boys golf state championship.  With a three-round team score of 941, the Warriors cruised past Velma-Alma, which finished second at 980, while Hobart placed third with a 988.