By Steve Lansdale
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 14 University of Texas men’s golf team knocked off four teams ranked in GolfStat’s top 13 to win its fifth consecutive Big 12 Championship Wednesday at Prairie Dunes Country Club, a par-70 course that stretches out over 6,940 yards. The Longhorns beat runner-up Oklahoma State by a single stroke.
Texas, which trailed by as many as six strokes before rallying to overtake the field[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)], won its eighth title in the Big 12 and 40th overall.
Head coach John Field said there was no assurance of returning to the top of the conference this season, and that that uncertainty only increased the pride he feels in this year’s team’s accomplishment.
“We suddenly have some great chemistry on our team,” Field said. “It has been a build all year long, we have had some incredible things happen and some things the guys have had to overcome. After losing Beau Hossler last year and revamping this team, these guys have had to assume a lot of pressure because we have won four Big 12s in a row. So to come in here to Prairie Dunes, a great golf course, incredible circumstances and difficult conditions, I’m really, really proud of our guys.”
UT juniors Doug Ghim and Scottie Scheffler tied for second place, shooting 8 over par, just one stroke off the tournament lead; Ghim climbed four places in the individual rankings on the final day in order to earn a share of the tie with Scheffler.
Senior Gavin Hall finished 22nd, finishing 19 over par after shooting a 77 in the fourth round. Sophomore Steven Chervony tied for 28th, and freshman Spencer Soosman tied for 32nd.
“I’m really proud of how the guys came together today,” Field said. “Starting with Gavin Hall’s eagle on 17, I think we played 17 five under par, and that gave us a chance to get back in the tournament. Oklahoma State is a great team — they’re coached incredibly well. It just came up for us this time. Our guys finished really well. Doug Ghim birdied the last two holes, Scottie Scheffler birdied 17, so we had two guys finish second in the tournament. It was a great day for Texas.
The Longhorns will learn their postseason future at 11 a.m. (CT) Thursday when the NCAA Selection show is broadcast live on the Golf Channel.
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