Sooners come back to claim Southern Highlands Collegiate, Cummins seals win on final hole
NORMAN – Redshirt junior Quade Cummins made a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to give the No. 6 Oklahoma men’s golf team the tournament title at the Southern Highlands Collegiate on Tuesday. The three-day, 54-hole event was held at the par-72, 7,374-yard Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas.
OU recorded a 282 (-7) during the final round, bringing its team total to 850 (-14) to earn its third win of the season. The elite 15-team field featured eight teams in the top 25 of the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, including five in the top 10.
OU’s team total of 850 marked its third-lowest team total of the season. Texas finished with a three-day total of 851 (-13) to place second. Stanford claimed third place at 854 (-10), while Texas Tech finished in fourth at 856 (-8). California took sole possession of fifth with a 54-hole 857 (-7).
The victory marks the 23nd win for the Sooners under 10th-year head coach Ryan Hybl. It was the first victory for the Sooners at the Southern Highlands Collegiate.
“We have wanted this one as much as any on our schedule for years,” Hybl said. “This was a big time week for us and to see Quade make that putt to win was legendary. All of our guys did their jobs this week. You have to execute and be smart on this golf course and we were both.”
The Sooners were tied with Texas at 13-under heading into the final hole of the round, but Cummins’ birdie putt sealed the win. The Weatherford, Okla., native earned a seventh place finish with a three-day 211 (-5). Cummins claimed his third top-10 finish of the season.
Redshirt junior Thomas Johnson earned his best finish in OU’s team lineup, taking 10th place at 212 (-4). Johnson posted a 71 (-1) during Tuesday’s final round and carded three birdies.
Freshman Patrick Welch earned a share of 19th place at 215 (-1). Welch earned five birdies on the front nine and closed out the event with a 70 (-2) for his first top-20 finish in OU’s lineup this season.
Junior Garett Reband finished with an even-par 72 during Tuesday’s round, taking a share of 24th place with a 54-hole 217 (+1). Junior Riley Casey turned in his best round at the event, posting a 70 (-2). Casey moved up the individual leaderboard during the final day of action, finishing in the 31st place at 219 (+3).
The Sooners continue their spring season at the N.I.T. at Omni Tucson National, which runs March 18-19 in Tuscon, Ariz.