OSU grabs lead at Southern Highlands

LAS VEGAS — Oklahoma State’s men’s golf team fired a 10-under 278 during its second round at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters on Tuesday to move into the lead at Southern Highlands Golf Club.

The Cowboys’ second-round score erased a four-shot lead held by Texas at the par-72, 7,374-yard layout. OSU finished the day at 18-under 558 and two strokes clear of the Longhorns. Southern California wrapped up the day alone in third at 570 while Oklahoma slipped into a tie for fourth.

UNLV’s Redford Bobbitt and Alabama’s Robby Shelton shared the individual lead after the second round of action. The duo came in at 8-under 136 and one shot ahead of the rest of the field.

OSU’s Wyndham Clark was one of two players just a shot off the pace of the leaders. The sophomore posted a 3-under 69 to get in with a 7-under 137 total and tied for third place. Clark birdied two of his first four holes before carding the lone bogey of his outward nine at the seventh. He rebounded with a birdie at the eighth to turn at 2-under 34. After posting a birdie at the 13th, Clark countered a bogey at the 15th with a birdie at the 16th en route to a 1-under 35 on his back nine.

Freshman Kristoffer Ventura followed an opening 69 with a 70 to finish the day tied for sixth place at 139.

The Cowboys’ low round of the day came courtesy of redshirt freshman Brendon Jelley of Jenks, who fired a 67 to vault 36 spots into a tie for 14th place at 141.

Junior Jordan Niebrugge carded a 72 to stand at 145 and tied for 33rd place, while sophomore Zachary Olsen signed for a 76 to finish at 146 and tied for 45th place.

OSU will get its final round underway tomorrow at 9:40 a.m. (PST) and will be grouped with Texas and USC.

The Sooners share fourth place with California at 5-under 571. OU recorded a 290 (+2) on Tuesday. All 15 teams in the field are ranked within the top 50 of the latest Golfweek/Sagarin poll, including 10 of the top 25 squads.

Leading the Sooners is senior Charlie Saxon, whose 5-under-par 139 has him in a tie for sixth place. Saxon followed his career-low-matching 65 (-7) in the first round with a 74 (+2) for the second.

Freshman Grant Hirschman holds a share of 27th place with an even-par 144. On Tuesday, he shot a 72 (E), counteracting four total bogeys with four birdies.

With two-round scores of 145 (+1), senior Michael Gellerman and sophomore Max McGreevy are tied for 33rd place. Gellerman shot a 2-over-par 74 on Tuesday, while McGreevy added a team-low 71 (-1). After recording two bogeys on the front nine, McGreevy closed the round with a bogey-free back nine, including a birdie on hole No. 13.

Luke Kwon tallied a 1-over-73 for the second straight round, bringing his 36-hole total to 146 (+2). The junior is tied for 45th place.

Sixth-year OU head coach Ryan Hybl said that even though his team’s score was not as low as in the first round, he is still pleased with its effort.

"I thought our guys fought hard today even though it wasn’t our best day," Hybl said. "We still have a chance tomorrow if we can go put up a great number. It was nice to see Max get under par today, and Grant played really solid again."

The final round of the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters is scheduled for Wednesday. The Sooners will be paired with Texas Tech and California and tee off from hole No. 1 beginning at 10:50 a.m. CT. Live results (updated every three holes) will be available on Golfstat.com.

Team Standings
1. Oklahoma State        280-278=558                                                                
2. Texas                        276=284=560
3. USC                          287-283=570
T4. Oklahoma              281-290=571
T4. California              288-283=571
T6. Texas Tech            290-282=572
T6. Illinois                  283-289=572
8. Arizona State           286-289=575
9. UCLA                     294-283=577
10. UNLV                   288-290=578
11. Alabama                288-295=583
12. Georgia                 293-292=585
13. SMU                     299-287=586
14. Texas A&M          292-297=589
15. TCU                      293-297=590
 
Top Individuals
T1. Redford Bobbitt (UNLV, individual) 65-71=136
T1. Robby Shelton (Alabama) 67-69=136
T3. Sean Crocker (USC) 70-67=137
T3. Wyndham Clark (Oklahoma State) 68-69=137
5. Jon Rahm (Arizona State) 70-68=138
 
OU Players
T6. Charlie Saxon 65-74=139
T27. Grant Hirschman 72-72=144
T33. Michael Gellerman 71-74=145
T33. Max McGreevy 74-71=145
T45. Luke Kwon 73-73=146

OSU Individuals
T3. Wyndham Clark 68-69=137
T6. Kristoffer Ventura 69-70=139
T14. Brendon Jelley 74-67=141
T33. Jordan Niebrugge 73-72=145
T45 Zachary Olsen 70-76=146