OC Eagles take second, UCO’s Griffith surges to title in Oak Tree Invitational
Oklahoma Christian pulled within two shots of Henderson State, while Cameron surged into third during the final round of the Oak Tree Invitational on the East Course at Oak Tree Country Club Tuesday.
Henderson State finished at 850 after a final round of 4-over 284, while Oklahoma Christian shot 1-over 281 to pull close. Cameron shot even-par 280 to close out and jump past Oklahoma City and Central Oklahoma, which took fourth and fifth respectively. UCO’s Evan Griffith Central won the individual crown at 5-under after rounds of 65-72-68.
Exequiel Rodriguez led the way for the Eagles, taking fifth place by shooting 1-over 211 (68-72-71). Oskari Nikku was the next to finish for Oklahoma Christian, tying for 11th at 214 +4 over his three rounds.
Cameron was led by Chris Somerfield who took second individually at 4-under. Somerfield led the Aggies with a two-day total of 69-69-68—206. He parred 40 holes, with nine birdies over the two days, as the team made 161 pars and 41 birdies.
Hamish Murray placed tied for 18th after recording a 74-73-70—217.
Oklahoma City University nabbed fourth place, led by. Leandro Mihaich who placed third at 2-under. Mihaich shot 69-73-66–208 in the tournament. In the final round, Mihaich, a freshman from Cordoba, Argentina, studying marketing, nailed an eagle on the par-5, 562-yard 12th hole Tuesday. Mihaich sank three birdies and limited himself to just one bogey in the last round. He piled up eight birdies and finished three strokes off the pace set by Central Oklahoma’s Evan Griffith in the tournament.
The Stars’ Dylan Teeter finished tied for 11th at 4 over par. He shot 76-65-73–214. Teeter, a sophomore accounting major from Bixby, Okla., had two birdies on the day and 13 overall. Will Fore and Tres Hill finished in the middle of the pack for the Stars. Fore shot 71-75-72–218, and Hill shot a 74-71-76–221. Hill had seven total birdies in the three rounds and Fore had nine.
Griffith used a sizzling late-round surge to rally for the individual title at Oak Tree Invitational in leading Central Oklahoma to a fifth-place finish.
Griffith was 4-under-par over the final 11 holes to rally for a closing two-under 68 in finishing at five-under 205 for a one-shot win over Chris Somerfield of Cameron.
It’s the first collegiate title for the junior standout, who tied for medalist honors at the Houston Classic last year before losing in a playoff.
The Bronchos shot a final-round 290 in finishing the two-day, 54-hole tournament at the 7,116-yard, par-70 East Course with an 863 total.
Caleb Kimmel ended up tied for sixth with a two-over 212 total following a closing 71. Bennett Baldwin shot a final-round 74, while Dylan Henderson had a 77 and Kyle Hickey a 78. Ross Taylor shot 77 competing as an individual medalist.
“I’m really proud of Evan and how he played the past two days,” head coach Derrick Thompson said. “He made a couple of mistakes today, but settled down and was just incredible down the stretch.
“It wasn’t a bad tournament for us, but certainly could have been better. But the guys are working hard and we’re getting better.”