Sooners finish fall season with fourth-place showing in Hawaii
The No. 7 Oklahoma men’s golf team claimed fourth place in the Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic. The three-day, 54-hole tournament was played at the par-71, 6,700-yard Royal Ka’anapali Course at the Ka’anapali Golf Club in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.
The Sooners ended their last event of the fall season by firing a 273 (-11) in Sunday’s third round. Their 18-under 54-hole total of 834 marks the best three-round score of the year by 21 strokes.
“Obviously this was not a perfect week for us, but I am proud of our finish these last two days,” OU head coach Ryan Hybl said. “Our guys kept fighting and that is something we talk about every day with our group.”
No. 24 Clemson claimed the team title with an overall 826 (-26), beating out No. 15 Georgia and No. 13 LSU by one and two strokes, respectively. No. 39 South Carolina finished fifth, six strokes behind Oklahoma.
Sophomore Blaine Hale was the best finisher for the Sooners, earning a tie for fourth, his second top-five and third top-10 placing of the season. His overall 11-under 202 is the not only lowest 54-hole total of his career, nine strokes under his previous best, but the lowest three-round score since Abraham Ancer set the school record (195) during the 2010-11 season.
Hale achieved this feat by recording a 5-under 66 for the second round in a row, once again matching his career-low single-round total. Additionally, he pocketed six birdies on the day.
“Blaine had another great week, and he continues to get better,” Hybl said.
Max McGreevy ended the weekend with a tie for 12th place, tallying a three-round 208. The senior carded a 71 on Sunday with three birdies.
Junior Grant Hirschman matched his best round of the fall season in the third round, posting a 67. His overall 211 earned him a share of 25th place.
Freshman Riley Casey finished in a tie for 36th place with a total 214. On Sunday, he collected four birdies and an eagle en route to a 70.
Finishing out the OU lineup was sophomore Brad Dalke, who ended the fall season with a tie for 50th at 217 after shooting a 70 in the final round.
Redshirt freshman Quade Cummins, who competed as an individual and was unattached from team scoring, continued to climb in the standings on Sunday to tie for 60th at 218. He posted a 70 in the final round.
“This has been a good fall for us, but the offseason will be really beneficial for our guys moving forward,” Hybl said.
The Sooners will kick off their spring season Feb. 20-22 at The Prestige in La Quinta, Calif.