OU shares lead with Baylor at Oak Hills CC
The No. 10 Oklahoma men’s golf team holds a share of first place after two rounds of the UTSA/Oak Hills Invitational with a 575 (+7). The 54-hole, two-day tournament is taking place Monday-Tuesday (Feb. 8-9) at the par-71, 6,765-yard Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas.
The Sooners recorded a 298 (+14) for the first 18 holes before putting together an impressive 277 (-7) in the second round, marking the lowest single-round score of the day among 15 squads and the only team round below par.
“It was a tale of two stories for us today,” OU head coach Ryan Hybl said. “The morning round was difficult with the conditions, and we didn’t respond very well, but our guys did a great job in the afternoon round.”
Tied with the Sooners is No. 48 Baylor. Louisiana Tech sits in third with an overall 586 (+18), and McNeese State is in fourth with a 590 (+22). Rounding out the top five is Southeastern Louisiana after shooting a 591 (+23) Monday.
Leading the Sooners are sophomore Grant Hirschman and freshman Blaine Hale, who sit in a tie for third with an even-par 142. Hirschman rebounded from a 75 (+4) on the first 18 holes to fire four birdies and an eagle for a 67 (-4) in the second round, matching his career-low single-round score. Hale, who is competing in his first collegiate tournament, tallied a 74 (+3) and a 68 (-3) in the first and second rounds, respectively, pocketing six birdies and two eagles on the day.
With an overall 148 (+6), senior Luke Kwon, junior Max McGreevy and freshman Brad Dalke share 20th place. Kwon shot a pair of 3-over 74s, accumulating five birdies and an eagle over two rounds.
After carding a 79 (+8) in the first round, McGreevy responded with consecutive birdies on the first four holes of the second round and added a fifth on hole No. 14 en route to a 69 (-2). Dalke collected three birdies in both rounds and totaled a 75 (+4) in the first and a 73 (+2) in the second.
Rylee Reinertson, who is competing as an individual and is unattached from team scoring, is currently tied for 11th place with an overall 145 (+3). The sophomore recorded a 72 (+1) in the first round and a 73 (+2) in the second.
“Hirschman and McGreevy played really well, and I am super proud of our freshman Blaine Hale making his first start, and he was great today,” Hybl said. “Tomorrow is a big day for us. We have a chance to win another tournament, and that is always our goal.”
The final round of the UTSA/Oak Hills Invitational is scheduled for Tuesday morning. OU will tee off from hole No. 1 at 9 a.m. CT, and live scoring will be available on GolfStat.com.
Tulsa sits in 13th place after rounds of 301 and 306- for a 36-hole total of 607. Tulsa freshmen Jack Knoesel sits in 18th place with a two round total of 147, after carding an opening round 72 and a second round total of 75.
Redshirt freshman Sam Humphreys is one shot behind Knoesel with a 148 total for 20th place. Humphreys shot rounds of 72 and 76. Freshman Preston Crawford opened with a score of 81, then turned in a 2-over par round of 73 to finish the day in 55th place with a total of 154. Junior Francisco Yanez is in 73rd place at 160 and freshman Marc Kepka in 78th place with a score of 161.
Team Results
T1. Oklahoma 298-277=575
T1. Baylor 291-284=575
3. Louisiana Tech 295-291=586
4. McNeese State 294-296=590
5. SE Louisiana 299-292=591
6. North Texas 302-292=594
7. Houston Baptist 296-301=597
8. Sam Houston State 299-299=598
9. UTSA 307-293=600
10. Texas State 300-302=602
11. Wichita State 299-306=605
12. UMKC 305-301=606
13. Tulsa 301-306=607
14. Louisiana 312-297=609
15. Southern Miss 313-304=617
Tulsa Individuals
T18. Jack Knoesel 72-75=147
T20. Sam Humphreys 72-76=148
T55. Preston Crawford 81-73=154
T73. Francisco Yanez 78-82=160
T78. Marc Kepka 79-82=161
Top-5 Individuals
1. Freddy Andersen, Baylor 71-69=140
2. Ian Snyman, North Texas 71-70=141
T3. Grant Hirschman, Oklahoma 75-67=142
T3. Chuck Spears, La. Tech 72-70=142
T3. Blaine Hale, Oklahoma 74-68=142
T3. Nick Thornton, Baylor 68-74=142