Sooners finish second to Baylor at Oak Hills Invite

The No. 10 Oklahoma men’s golf team earned second place to Mike McGraw-coached Baylor at the UTSA/Oak Hills Invitational Tuesday. Five of OU’s six competitors finished in the top 20. The 54-hole, two-day tournament was played Monday-Tuesday (Feb. 8-9) at the par-71, 6,765-yard Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas.

The Sooners entered Tuesday in a tie for first at 7 over par before recording a 293 (+9) on the day to bring their three-round total to 868 (+16). Three of the Sooners suffered double bogeys on the par-4 12th hole

"We had our opportunities today heading into the back nine, and our momentum went away really fast," OU head coach Ryan Hybl said. "We struggled finishing and there is no way around it, but we will get better."

No. 48 Baylor claimed the team title with an overall 863 (+11). Louisiana Tech placed third with an 875 (+23), North Texas finished fourth at 885 (+33) and McNeese State took fifth at 886 (+34).

Sophomore Grant Hirschman and freshman Blaine Hale were the best finishers for the Sooners, sharing sixth place with a 217 (+4). Hirschman shot a bogey-free front nine and finished the round with a 75 (+4), earning his seventh career top-10 finish and second of the season. Hale, who was competing in his first collegiate event, also carded a 75 (+4) Tuesday, pocketing three birdies.

Also ending in the top 10 for the Sooners was senior Luke Kwon, who claimed a share of 10th with a 219 (+6), marking his third career top-10 finish. In the final round, Kwon erased three early bogeys with three birdies to end the day at even-par 71.

Max McGreevy earned a tie for 14th with an overall 220 (+7). The junior collected five birdies en route to a 1-over 72 in the third round. It was his 12th career top-20 finish.

Freshman Brad Dalke ended the tournament with a share of 27th place. After firing a 75  in the final round, he brought his 54-hole total to 223 (+10). Competing as an individual and unattached from team scoring, sophomore Rylee Reinertson claimed a tie for 20th after a final-round 76 for the first top-20 finish of his career.

The Sooners will be back in action Feb. 21-23 (Sunday-Monday) at the Puerto Rico Shootout in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.

Tulsa finished 14th out of 15 teams in the field. The Hurricane carded a final round score of 309 for a 54-hole total of 916. Tulsa redshirt freshman Sam Humphreys finished in 27th place to lead the Hurricane.
 
Humphreys turned in a final round score of 75 for a three-round total of 223. Three Tulsa freshmen – Jack Knoesel, Preston Crawford and Marc Kepka – finished the final day with rounds of 78. Knoesel placed 37th overall with a 225 total, while Crawford finished in 61st place with a 232 total and Kepka placed 77th with a score of 239.
 
Junior Francisco Yanez placed 82nd overall with a final score of 242.
 
Tulsa will be in action next at The Hayt, February 26-28, in Ponte Verde Beach, Florida.
 
Team Results
1.       Baylor                       291-284-288=863
2.       Oklahoma                 298-277-293=868
3.       Louisiana Tech         295-291-289=875
4.       North Texas             302-292-291=885
5.       McNeese State          294-296-296=886
6.       UTSA                       307-293-287=887
7.       Wichita State            299-306-285=890
8.       SE Louisiana             299-292-303=894
9.       Sam Houston State    299-299-298=896
10.     Texas State               300-302-297=899
11.     UMKC                      305-301-295=901
12.     Houston Baptist        296-301-316=912
13.     Southern Miss           313-304-298=915
14.     Tulsa                         301-306-309=916
15.     Louisiana                  312-297-311=920
 

Top-5 Individuals
1.    David Faraudo, Texas State   70-73-69=212 (-1)
2.    Victor Lange, La. Tech                     73-71-68=212 (-1)
3.    Ian Snyman, North Texas     71-70-73=214 (+1)
4.    Chuck Spears, La. Tech                     72-70-73=215 (+2)
5.    Freddy Andersen, Baylor       71-69-76=216 (+3)