OCU men take second at SAC Championship

Photo: Jack Madden and Ty Stites collect all-tournament honors.

AMARILLO, Texas – Oklahoma City University secured a second-place finish in the Sooner Athletic Conference men’s golf championships Tuesday at Tascosa Golf Club.

Jack Madden and Ty Stites spearheaded the Stars by grabbing all-tournament accolades. Oklahoma City, ranked second in the NAIA, carded a 289-293-289–871 on the par-71, 6,805-yard La Paloma Course.

Third-ranked Texas Wesleyan captured its first SAC men’s golf title with a 284-288-289–861. Johannes Hounsgaard from Wayland Baptist (Texas) took the conference individual crown.

Stites ended four strokes shy of the individual title with a 72-71-71–871, which tied him for individual runner-up. Stites, a sophomore from Sallisaw, Okla., made 13 birdies to tie with Victor Miron of Texas Wesleyan for the most among the tournament field.

Madden, a freshman from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Ireland, posted a 74-72-71–217 to tie for fifth place. Madden knocked in eight birdies while making par on 36 of the 54 holes.

Three Stars finished among the top 10 – Madden, Stites and Peri’Don Castille. Castille, a junior from Dallas, produced a 72-75-73–220, which tied for ninth place. Castille nailed seven birdies and made par 36 times during the tournament.

Carson Seals provided OCU with a 71-79-76–226. Seals, a junior from Ardmore, Okla., buried six birdies along with 34 par putts. Brandon Strathe, a sophomore from Owasso, Okla., added a 78-75-74–227 and made six birdies.

Sam Simonsen and Niccolo Nespoli were OCU’s individuals. Simonsen, a freshman from Plano, Texas, shot an 86-76-68–230 while draining 10 birdies. Nespoli, a senior from Milan, Italy, had an 80-81-78–239.

Rain delayed the start of the final round by 30 minutes. Temperatures reached the lower 50s with winds blowing between 10-15 mph under overcast skies.