NCAA MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sooners, Cowboys start strong on shortened first day
— Blaine Hale faced west from the top of a hill where Karsten Creek Golf Club’s No. 9 tee box sits.
The Oklahoma golfer had a perfect view of a magnificent sunset, but little time to enjoy it on Friday evening. He and his playing partners were on their 18th hole of the day and trying to finish before darkness brought its own end to the first round of the NCAA men’s golf championships.
The tournament was hit with a 2-hour, 20-minute rain delay before anyone ever took the course. Then players had to be pulled off for another delay that lasted just over an hour.
As a result, several players were on the course when the tournament had to be halted because it was too dark to play.
Hale, along with Oklahoma State’s Austin Eckroat and Texas A&M’s Walker Lee, finished Friday’s round, as did one other group of their teammates. First-round play will resume at 7 a.m. Saturday, then the Sooners and Cowboys return to tee No. 1 at 8 a.m. to begin the second round.
Behind Hale’s 3-underpar 69, defending
champion Oklahoma ended the day in second place at 5-under par, three shots behind Northwestern. Eckroat shot 1-under 71, and the Cowboys sat tied for fourth at 2-under as a team.
“It looked like we built momentum in the middle of the round,” OSU coach Alan Bratton said. “We’re trending the right direction, and we’ll go get it tomorrow.”
Early on, Sooners were riding the hot swing of Weatherford product Quade Cummins, who was 4-under par through his first nine holes, and that was his score when he came off the course.
Early on, Sooners were riding the hot swing of Weatherford product Quade Cummins, who finished at 4-under-par 68, tied for fifth overall.
“It’s great getting off to a good start,” OU coach Ryan Hybl said.
“I feel like we had two guys go lead the charge with Blaine and Quade, just superstars out there. Overall, very happy that we’re in a good, solid spot.”
Near the middle of their round, the Sooners’ score peaked at 8-under par before dropping a few shots down the stretch.
Oklahoma State started slower, but picked up the pace on its ninth hole of the day, Karsten’s No. 18. Eckroat, Matt Wolff and Kristoffer Ventura birdied the hole.
Wolff followed with an eagle on the next hole, while Eckroat and Viktor Hovland made birdies as the Cowboys moved under par and stayed there.