OU, OSU set to compete at Southern Highlands
Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will be looking to improve on their rankings of 22 and 23, respectively, when they compete at the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters starting today in Las Vegas. The three-day, 54-hole event will be played Monday-Wednesday at the 7,510-yard, par-72 Southern Highlands Golf Club.
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. At the tournament, the Sooners will see four Big 12 opponents in Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and TCU.
"Southern Highlands is a true test of golf, and this is the best tournament of the year without a doubt," sixth-year OU head coach Ryan Hybl said. "We are excited to be going out, and I am looking forward to seeing how our guys react this week. I feel like we are getting better as a group and this will be a perfect platform for us to show where we are as a team."
The Sooners are coming off a tie for third place at the competitive Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, P.R., after recording a 1-over-par 865. Freshman Grant Hirschman claimed a share of seventh place with a 212 (-4), and senior Michael Gellerman tied for 19th at 1 over par.
OU’s lineup will include Gellerman, senior Charlie Saxon, junior Luke Kwon, sophomore Max McGreevy and Hirschman.
The Cowboys will be grouped with UCLA and California for their first round and will tee off at 8:30 a.m. (PST).
The Cowboys have won the event on five occasions with their most recent title coming in 2011. That year also produced OSU’s most recent individual medalist at the event, Morgan Hoffmann.
OSU’s starting five will consist of junior Jordan Niebrugge, sophomores Wyndham Clark and Zachary Olsen, redshirt freshman Brendon Jelley and true freshman Kristoffer Ventura.
THE FIELD (GOLFWEEK/SAGARIN RANKINGS IN PARENTHESES)
Illinois (1)
Texas (3)
USC (7)
Texas Tech (11)
UCLA (12)
Arizona State (15)
Alabama (16)
California (20)
Oklahoma State (22)
Oklahoma (23)
UNLV (26)
Georgia (30)
TCU (33)
SMU (37)
Texas A&M (46)
LIVE STATS
Live stats (updated every three holes) will be available at Golfstat.com.