Niebrugge wins, Jelley fires 65 as Cowboys move up to third, secure NCAA Championship berth
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Oklahoma State’s men’s golf team fired an 8-under 272 during its final round at the NCAA New Haven Regional on Saturday to finish in third place at The Course at Yale.
The Cowboys finished at 2-over 842 for the event to wrap up their nation-leading 68th NCAA Championship berth in the 69-year history of the program. South Florida cruised to a 14-shot win at the par-70, 6,803-yard layout, finishing at 826. San Diego State finished two shots ahead of the Cowboys and as the event’s runner-up at 840. Vanderbilt finished at 844 and LSU posted an 849 to grab the regional’s final two qualifying spots.
For the 10th time, OSU produced a regional medalist with Jordan Niebrugge securing his second career victory. After posting a course-record 62 on Friday, the junior closed with a 69 to finish at 7-under 203 and three shots clear of the field.
With his victory Niebrugge joins Kevin Wentworth (1989, 1990), current OSU head coach Alan Bratton (1995), Bo Van Pelt (1997), Jonathan Moore (2006), Kevin Tway (2008, 2009, 2011) and Peter Uihlein (2010) as regional champions for the Cowboys.
Niebrugge and all four of his teammates carded rounds in the 60s to close the event with redshirt freshman Brendon Jelley leading the way with a 65 during his third round.
Jelley, who tied for 32nd place at 214, turned in a bogey-free outward nine that featured birdies at the fourth, sixth and ninth to turn at 3-under 31. His lone bogey came at the 10th, but he responded quickly with a birdie at the 11th before adding two more birdies at the 13th and 16th.
Sophomore Zachary Olsen closed with his low round of the event, a 1-under 69, to finish tied for 25th place at 213.
Sophomore Wyndham Clark tied for 34th place at 215 after posting a 69 of his own.
Freshman Kristoffer Ventura turned in a 69 as well to get in with a 217 total and tied for 42nd place.
The Cowboys will return to action on May 29 when they begin play at the NCAA Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.