Sooner trio competes in USGA Men’s State Team Championship

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birthday magic, local knowledge and some good old-fashioned shot-making all went a long way on Wednesday in the first round of the 12th USGA Men’s State Team Championship.

Ohio, Missouri, Connecticut and Texas each took advantage of at least one of the aforementioned elements to finish in a four-way tie for the lead, posting 2-under 140 on the 7,162-yard, par-71 West Course at the Country Club of Birmingham.

The United States Golf Association conducts the USGA Men’s State Team Championship on a biennial basis. It features teams of three players from all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Eighteen holes of stroke play are conducted over three days, with the two lowest scores of the three individuals counting as the team’s score for the round. Following Thursday’s second round, the field will be cut to the low 21 teams and ties.

Defending champion Texas was the lone team to post an under-par score during the afternoon wave, led by a 3-under 68 from Joshua Irving, who was celebrating his 30th birthday. Competing in his first Men’s State Team, Irving, of Dallas, carded six birdies during his round, with four of them coming during a five-hole stretch between Nos. 8 and 12. Feeling the pressure of representing a state that owns a record four titles, Irving made an 8-foot par save on No. 1 and then watched his 40-foot birdie try on No. 2 roll down a slope and sneak into the hole. His round, especially on the greens, gained momentum from there.

The Oklahoma team is 39th at 152. Draegen Majors shot 75, Heath Myers 77 and Mike Hughett 79. The team will need a dramatically lower score today to make the cut.
12th USGA MEN’S STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND 1
Missouri – 140; Richard Berkmeyer, Wildwood – 34-35–69; Brad Nurski, St. Joseph – 35-36–71; Sam Migdal, Ballwin – 37-38–75
Connecticut – 140; Geoff Vartelas, Cromwell – 35-33–68; John Flaherty, Glastonbury – 36-36–72; Chet Hrostek, New Milford – 39-42–81
Ohio – 140; Bill Williamson, Cincinnati – 34-35–69; Jeffrey Scohy, Bellbrook – 33-38–71; Brandon Pluchinsky, North Lima – 37-37–74
Texas – 140; Joshua Irving, Dallas – 33-35–68; Zach Atkinson, Colleyville – 37-35–72; Scott Abbott, Dallas – 39-40–79
Pennsylvania – 142; Christopher Crawford, Bensalem – 35-34–69; Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh – 37-36–73; Chip Lutz, Reading – 36-38–74
Minnesota – 143; Jesse Bull, Hopkins – 34-37–71; Trent Peterson, Eagan – 38-34–72; Andrew McCain, Minneapolis – 36-39–75
Massachusetts – 143; Matt Parziale, Brockton – 34-37–71; Herbie Aikens, Kingston – 37-35–72; John Kelly, East Longmeadow – 37-38–75
Indiana – 143; Kenny Cook, Noblesville – 35-36–71; Sean Rowen, Greenwood – 38-34–72; Brett Widner, Avon – 39-40–79
Florida – 144; Marc Dull, Winter Haven – 34-37–71; Joe Alfieri, Lutz – 36-37–73; Jake Kevorkian, St. Petersburg – 44-40–84
Michigan – 144; Tom Werkmeister, Grandville – 35-36–71; Evan Bowser, Dearborn – 35-38–73; Anthony Sorentino, Shelby Township – 43-40–83
Arizona – 144; Ken Tanigawa, Paradise Valley – 36-35–71; Cory Bacon, Cave Creek – 36-37–73; Bryan Hoops, Chandler – 37-40–77
North Carolina – 146; Justin Tereshko, Greensboro – 34-37–71; Scott Harvey, Kernersville – 36-39–75; David Gies II, Charlotte – 36-40–76
West Virginia – 146; Sam O’Dell, Hurricane – 36-36–72; Patrick Carter, Huntington – 35-39–74; Philip Reale, South Charleston – 40-38–78
Washington – 146; Reid Hatley, Spokane – 37-35–72; Erik Hanson, Kirkland – 37-37–74; Tom Brandes, Bellevue – 38-41–79
New Mexico – 146; Marty Sanchez, Santa Fe – 39-33–72; James Lee, Albuquerque – 38-36–74; Kevin Sivage, Albuquerque – 43-39–82
Virginia – 147; Justin Young, Salem – 35-38–73; Scott Shingler, Haymarket – 36-38–74; Keith Decker, Martinsville – 40-37–77
New York – 147; Stewart Hagestad, New York – 35-37–72; Tyler McArdell, Baldwinsville – 37-38–75; Luke Hobika, DeWitt – 35-40–75
Louisiana – 147; Patrick Christovich, New Orleans – 35-38–73; Robby McWilliams, Benton – 38-36–74; Brandon Aydlett, Metairie – 40-40–80
Rhode Island – 147; Bobby Leopold, Coventry – 38-35–73; Kyle Hoffman, Lincoln – 34-40–74; Brad Valois, Warwick – 35-39–74
Tennessee – 147; Craig Smith, Nashville – 34-38–72; Philip Lee, White Bluff – 37-38–75; Tim Jackson, Germantown – 37-41–78
New Jersey – 147; Trevor Randolph, Franklin Lakes – 35-38–73; Michael Stamberger, Brielle – 38-36–74; Brian Komline, Bridgewater – 39-40–79
Oregon – 147; Jesse Heinly, Bend – 37-36–73; Justin Kadin, Bend – 36-38–74; Conner Barr, Beaverton – 41-43–84
Colorado – 148; Nick Nosewicz, Aurora – 33-40–73; Keith Humerickhouse, Eagle – 39-36–75; Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield – 38-37–75
Kentucky – 148; Joseph Deraney, Lexington – 39-35–74; Andy Roberts, Owensboro – 38-36–74; Denver Haddix, Lexington – 37-40–77
Iowa – 148; Jon Olson, Ankeny – 34-37–71; Gene Elliott, West Des Moines – 37-40–77; Michael McCoy, Des Moines – 39-41–80
Maine – 149; Andrew Slattery, Auburn – 36-37–73; Jack Wyman, South Freeport – 36-40–76; Ricky Jones, Thomaston – 42-36–78
South Carolina – 150; Robert Dargan, Columbia – 38-36–74; Todd White, Spartanburg – 37-39–76; Todd Hendley, Greer – 38-41–79
Alabama – 150; Matt Johnson, Dothan – 37-37–74; Woodie Eubanks, Trussville – 39-37–76; Steven Groover, Birmingham – 40-42–82
Idaho – 150; Jesse Hibler, Meridian – 38-34–72; Arthur Lynch, Boise – 37-41–78; Justin McAfee, Boise – 44-40–84
Kansas – 150; Max Lazzo, Wichita – 33-41–74; Bradley Lane, Lawrence – 37-39–76; Tim McKinnis, Lyons – 39-41–80
Puerto Rico – 151; Erick Morales, Sabana Seca – 36-36–72; Daniel Caban, Cabo Rojo – 39-40–79; Melvin Morales, Humacao – 43-41–84
Nebraska – 151; Gregory Stanek, Bellevue – 35-37–72; Brian Csipkes, Gretna – 41-38–79; Ryan Nietfeldt, Elkhorn – 40-42–82
District of Columbia – 151; Ryan Tendall, Washington – 37-36–73; Tom Wharton, Washington – 37-41–78; Endel Liias, Washington – 41-38–79
Illinois – 151; Tee-K Kelly, Wheaton – 37-36–73; Todd Mitchell, Bloomington – 40-38–78; Kyle Nathan, Glenview – 40-38–78
Utah – 151; Cameron Crawford, Bluffdale – 40-34–74; Ryan Brimley, Herriman – 38-39–77; Dan Horner, Sandy – 40-41–81
Maryland – 151; Ben Warnquist, Olney – 37-38–75; Mark Cusic, California – 38-38–76; Dan Falls, Gaithersburg – 41-37–78
Mississippi – 151; Ben Snow, Hattiesburg – 37-38–75; Clay Homan, Starkville – 36-40–76; Josh Lampley, Gulfport – 42-40–82
Oklahoma – 152; Draegen Majors, Tulsa – 37-38–75; Heath Myers, Kingfisher – 41-36–77; Michael Hughett, Owasso – 39-40–79
California – 154; Ashwin Arasu, San Diego – 37-40–77; Dan Erickson, Whittier – 38-39–77; Thomas Hutchison, San Jose – 40-38–78
New Hampshire – 154; Cameron Salo, New Ipswich – 39-38–77; Jamie Ferullo, Rochester – 39-38–77; Ryan Kohler, Chesterfield – 37-43–80
Hawaii – 155; Andrew Chin, Honolulu – 37-39–76; Jun Ho Won, Honolulu – 39-40–79; Tyler Ota, Aiea – 41-38–79
Georgia – 155; Jack Hall, Savannah – 38-39–77; John Engler, Augusta – 37-41–78; Colin Bowles, Albany – 39-41–80
South Dakota – 155; Jesse Talcott, Harrisburg – 38-37–75; Michael Keeton, Pierre – 41-39–80; Julean Michels, Sioux Falls – 41-43–84
Montana – 155; Craig Hurlbert, Hamilton – 37-39–76; Jim Coleman, Billings – 36-43–79; Mark Mance, Whitefish – 40-40–80
North Dakota – 156; Rick Kuhn, Bismarck – 38-38–76; Bill Carlson, Fargo – 38-42–80; Justin Redding, Minot – 42-42–84
Nevada – 156; Edward Fryatt, Las Vegas – 39-38–77; Jacob Wilner, Reno – 39-40–79; David Nelson, Reno – 41-39–80
Delaware – 157; Jay Whitby, Wyoming – 36-33–69; Gregory Wolfe, Newark – 44-44–88; Jeffrey Allen, Wyoming – 46-48–94
Wisconsin – 157; Kyle Driscoll, Pewaukee – 36-39–75; Robert Gregorski, Menasha – 41-41–82; Kevin Cahill, Waukesha – 43-40–83
Arkansas – 158; Beau Glover, North Little Rock – 41-35–76; Stephen Cox, Jonesboro – 43-39–82; Trey Schaap, Little Rock – 41-41–82
Vermont – 159; Garren Poirier, Killington – 40-39–79; Eric Lajeunesse, Barre – 40-40–80; Bryan Smith, Jay – 44-38–82
Alaska – 160; Greg Sanders, Anchorage – 38-41–79; Adam Baxter, Anchorage – 40-41–81; Jordan Miller, Anchorage – 38-45–83
Wyoming – 168; John Hornbeck, Saratoga – 39-42–81; Dave Balling, Cody – 42-45–87; Mark Isakson, Sheridan – 40-47–87