Sooners hold 12-shot lead on opening day at Big 12 Championship
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – After one of the most dominant days in tournament history, the Oklahoma men’s golf team is the only team under par and holds a 12-shot lead over the field at the halfway point of the Big 12 Championship.
The 10th-ranked Sooners (1, -6), who are looking to repeat as conference champions for the first time since 1956-57, fired rounds of 275 (-5) and 279 (-1) on Monday at Prairie Dunes Country Club to create distance on the leaderboard. Four OU golfers sit inside the top six in the individual race, highlighted by sophomore Drew Goodman, who is in solo third at the three-day, 72-hole event.
“There’s no doubt that today was a really good day for us,” head coach Ryan Hybl said. “We know there is a long way to go this week, but we also know there is no limit to what this group can do if we play quality golf. Prairie Dunes is a demanding test every time you go out, and tomorrow’s going to be no different.”
Oklahoma opened the day with the third-lowest Sooner round at Prairie Dunes ever, carding a 5-under 275 at the par-70 course that’s hosted the Big 12 Championship 13 times before 2023. The 275 trailed only 2021’s final round and 2002’s second round, both of which the Sooners fired 274 (-6). Steady rounds of 67 (-3) from Goodman and 68 (-2) from Ben Lorenz paved the way for Hybl’s team early on. Patrick Welch birdied the 18th, and true freshman Jase Summy saved par on the final hole of the morning wave as the two signed for even-par 70s. Stephen Campbell Jr. struggled early in the round but was strong on the back nine, tallying eight pars before a birdie on the 18th to collect a 74.
Tough conditions highlighted the afternoon round as the wind picked up at the historic course, forcing scores higher. Welch paced the team with a 68 (-2) anchored by three straight birdies on Nos. 15-17 to move back into the top five. Goodman and Lorenz matched with even 70s to secure top-five positions. After starting on No. 10, Summy found trouble on the 17th, where he triple-bogeyed, but a near-perfect 31 on the way in featured four birdies and no bogeys as the freshman continued his stellar play. The Sooners, who entered the second round with an 11-stroke lead, saw their advantage fall to just four strokes after Summy’s triple, but a counting 6-under team card on the way in grew the lead again as the field couldn’t keep pace.
Entering Tuesday’s third round, Goodman (3, -3) sits six back of leader Jonas Baumgartner (Okla. State). Lorenz and Welch share fourth at the 36-hole mark as both sit at 2-under par. Summy owns a piece of sixth at 1 over. Campbell Jr. rounded out the OU contingent and shares 42nd.
The Sooners ranked first or second among all teams in par-3, 4 and 5 scoring and were 10 strokes better than anyone else on par-4 holes Monday. The team’s 104 pars and 37 birdies paced the league.
Oklahoma is slated to tee off on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. CT with Oklahoma State (2, +6).
Live scoring for the remainder of the tournament can be found on Golfstat. In addition, Wednesday’s final round of the championship will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Cowboys Wrap Up Day One At Prairie Dunes In Second Place
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Behind the strong play of junior Jonas Baumgartner, Oklahoma State’s men’s golf team wrapped up the first day of action at the Big 12 Championship in second place at Prairie Dunes Country Club.
The Cowboys posted an 8-over 288 during the morning round of action to stand alone in third place, two shots behind Texas Tech and 13 off the pace of Oklahoma. OSU then used the round of the afternoon, a 2-under 278, to move into sole possession of second place at 566. OU grabbed the 36-hole lead at 554.
Baumgartner shared the 18-hole lead after opening with a 67 before firing a 6-under 64 during the afternoon session to grab a two-shot lead over the field. His second round was one shot off the Big 12 single-round mark and matched the lowest round ever recorded during Big 12 action at the par-70, 7,025-yard layout.
During the second round, Baumgartner started on the back nine and posted a bogey-free 32, which featured birdies at Nos. 12, 17 and 18. He moved to 5-under par on the day with birdies at the second and third. After carding back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6, Baumgartner reeled off three consecutive birdies to end his round.
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen opened with a 74 to stand in a tie for 23rd place. However, the fifth year rallied during his second round with a 68 to stand at 142 and tied for ninth place.
Fifth year Leo Oyo posted a 77 to start play before rallying with a 70 during round two to finish at 147 and tied for 23rd place.
Junior Bo Jin found his way into the top 10 after the first 18 as well, signing for a 70 to share seventh place. He dipped into a tie for 35th place after signing for an 80 to finish the day
Senior Hazen Newman opened with a 78 before following with a 76 to finish at 154 and tied for 44th.