Men's Golf Looking for Ninth National Title

May 25, 1999

OSU looks for ninth national title
Sixth-ranked Oklahoma State, competing in its 53rd consecutive NCAA Men's Golf Championship, resumes its quest for national title No. 9 June 2-5 at Hazeltine National Golf Club. The Cowboys, whose only tournament title this year came at Hazeltine, are looking for their first NCAA championship since the 1995 team defeated Tiger Woods-led Stanford in a playoff.

OSU in the national tournament
The Cowboys most recently won the NCAA Championship in 1995 and are the only team to have competed in each of the last 52 NCAA tournaments. OSU has won eight national team titles and has finished lower than fifth just nine times; six OSU players have won individual national titles. In addition to their championships, the Cowboys have finished as the national runners-up 13 times. During a 14-year span between 1975 and 1988, OSU finished in the top two at the championship 13 times. During the Mike Holder era at OSU (1974-present), every golfer that has remained with the program for four years has been a part of at least one national championship. The Cowboys have never missed the national championship's cut, which was established in 1971, although in 1993, the Cowboys narrowly avoided the cut, winning one of two spots in a three-way playoff after tying for 14th through 36 holes.

The Cowboys in 1998-99
OSU picked up an important tournament victory when it won the Ping-Golfweek Preview in its first competition of the year Sept. 28-29. However, the Cowboys have not won a tournament since that opener on the site of the NCAA Championship, although OSU has finished out of the top five just twice in 11 events. Both Charles Howell, at the Preview, and Edward Loar, at the Golf World/Palmetto Dunes Invitational on Nov. 6-8, have won medalist honors during the season. Until Anders Hultman's 13th-place finish at last week's ASU Thunderbird/Savane Invitational, either Howell or Loar had led the Cowboys in every tournament this season; however, Hultman led the team in the next three competitions. Howell returned to the top of the team with a 10th-place finish at the Central Regional, keyed by a final-round 68.

50-plus years of history
Oklahoma State celebrated its 52nd year of varsity golf last season by winning its 47th conference title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 52nd time. The Cowboys have won eight national titles and have finished fifth or higher 43 times. Thirty-eight OSU golfers have won conference titles, and the Cowboys have produced six NCAA medalists and 122 All-Americans. In the 26 years under head coach Mike Holder, OSU has entered 359 tournaments and won 155 titles for a 43.2 winning percentage. In addition, the Cowboys have posted 83 runner-up finishes, meaning that OSU has finished first or second 66.3 percent of the time.

The 1998 NCAA Championship
OSU carded a school-record score of 1,127 at last year's championship in Albuquerque, N.M., two shots better than the previous NCAA championship record score - but the Cowboys finished fourth, nine strokes behind champion UNLV. The high altitude and excellent conditions conspired to keep the scores incredibly low; OSU held the lead after the first round - its first NCAA tourney first-round lead since 1980 - but saw the Rebels record an amazing 269 in the second round to take the lead for good.

Head Coach Mike Holder
In the last 26 years, Mike Holder's name has become synonymous with success in college golf. He has coached 92 All-Americans, including 32 first-team choices, and his teams have won 23 league titles and seven national championships. Holder ranked second only to Kansas basketball coach Phog Allen in Big Eight titles regardless of sport, and he is one of 20 coaches all-time in all sports who have directed national-championship teams in three different decades.

Men's golf part of OSU's overall athletic success
Although no Oklahoma State athletic squad can match the men's golf program's 53 years of consecutive NCAA championship qualification, OSU is known nationally for its success in several different sports. The Cowboys' 30 national wrestling titles are the most by any school in any sport, and OSU ranks fourth in NCAA history with 42 national team titles in all men's sports. In addition to its 30 wrestling and eight men's golf championships, OSU has also won titles in men's basketball (two), baseball (one) and men's cross country (one). Oklahoma State's total of 140 individual NCAA titles ranks sixth all-time.

Noting the Cowboys

OSU has produced at least one top-10 finisher in 11 of 12 tournaments this year, and the team has tallied 16 top-10 finishes in all.

The Cowboys have two medalist honors to their credit this season and have notched seven top-five individual performances.

Sophomore Peter Davidson returned to OSU's lineup at the ASU Thunderbird/Savane Invitational for the first time this spring. He had been out of commission with a broken left little finger, an injury suffered in a weight-training mishap.

OSU had a fabulous start to the season even before the school year began. At the U.S. Amateur, Charles Howell recorded the second-best stroke-play score in the tournament and then reached the third round; Landry Mahan also qualified for match play and reached the quarterfinals.

Freshman Anders Hultman has improved dramatically this spring, finishing in the top 20 in five of the past seven events.

Hultman, Howell and Edward Loar each earned All-Big 12 recognition. Davidson (one of only two golfers with a 4.0 GPA), Howell and Nick Seymour were named to the Academic All-Big 12 first team.

OSU's fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championship marked the first time the Cowboys had ever finished out of the top three in a conference tournament. But the growing strength of the league is demonstrated in its record eight entrants into the Central Regional lineup, compared with seven last year and six in 1997. Four Big 12 teams qualified for this year's national tourney; three made the 30-team field in 1998 and 1997.

Redshirt freshman Bret Guetz, whose brother, Brian, was an All-American at OSU, hails from Littleton, Colo. However, neither Guetz nor current OSU volunteer assistant basketball coach Brooks Thompson, also a Littleton native, attended Columbine High School, the site of the unspeakably tragic shooting of April 20.

Oklahoma State Cowboy Men's Golf
at the 1999 NCAA Championships
June 2-5, 1999 - Hazeltine National Golf Club - Chaska, Minn.

The Cowboy Roster (probable lineup denoted by asterisks)

Name Yr. Hometown Stroke Avg. Nat'l Rank Peter Davidson* So. Hollviken, Sweden 76.00 --- Missed most of spring with broken finger

Bret Guetz Fr. Littleton, Colo. 76.67 --- Brother of ex-OSU All-American Brian Guetz

Charles Howell* So. Augusta, Ga. 71.56 7 Ranked among national top 10 all year

Anders Hultman* Fr. Gothenburg, Sweden 73.03 42 Nation's sixth-ranked freshman

Edward Loar* Jr. Rockwall, Texas 71.92 16 Five top-10 finishes this year

Billy Lowry Fr. Ada, Okla. --- --- Former state of Oklahoma high-school champ

Landry Mahan* Jr. Richardson, Texas 73.14 85 Top-20 finishes in three of last seven tourneys

Nick Seymour Fr. Tustin, Calif. 76.42 --- Filled in for injured Davidson for most of spring

Cowboy Quick Facts

Location             Stillwater, Okla.
Enrollment           20,466
Colors               Orange and Black
President            Dr. James Halligan
Athletics Director   Dr. Terry Don Phillips
Head Coach           Mike Holder (26th year)
  Alma Mater         Oklahoma State, 1970
Assistant            Mike McGraw (Second year)
  Alma Mater         Central Oklahoma, 1982
Home Course          Karsten Creek
1999 Big 12 Finish   Fourth
  Top Individual     T7. Anders Hultman
Conference Titles    47
                    (Two Big 12, 36 Big 8, nine Mo. Valley)
1998 NCAA Finish     Fourth
  Top Individual     T15. Edward Loar
NCAA Appearances     53
                    (1947-99 consecutively)
NCAA Titles          Eight
                    (1963, '76, '78, '80, '83, '87, '91, '95)
1998-99 Medalists    Two

OSU vs. the Field
Here's how the Cowboys fared head-to-head against this year's NCAA Championship field:

Arizona           7-1 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
Arizona State     3-3 (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
Arkansas          1-0 (12)
Augusta State     did not play
Brigham Young     1-1 (5, 7)
California        2-1 (5, 6, 9)
Clemson           2-2 (1, 3, 4, 6)
Colorado          2-0 (10, 12)
Colorado State    1-1 (5, 9)
Duke              did not play
East Tenn. St.    1-0 (4)
Florida           2-1 (1, 3, 11)
Georgia           4-3 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11)
Georgia Tech      3-1 (1, 2, 3, 6)
Houston           4-4 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12)
Kansas            1-1-1 (9, 10, 12)
Illinois          1-0 (12)
Minnesota         2-2 (1, 6, 8, 12)
Mississippi       did not play
Nebraska          1-2 (10, 11, 12)
North Carolina    did not play
Northwestern      0-1 (12)
Oregon            0-1 (9)
Richmond          did not play
San Diego State   1-0 (5)
South Carolina    3-1 (1, 2, 4, 11)
Toledo            1-0 (12)
UNLV              1-6 (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Washington        0-1 (9)

Legend

 1: Ping-Golfweek Preview
 2: Taylor Made Red River Classic
 3: Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate
 4: Golf World/Palmetto Dunes Invitational
 5: John Burns Intercollegiate
 6: Golf Digest Collegiate Invitational
 7: Cleveland Golf/Morris Williams Invitational
 8: U.S. Collegiate
 9: ASU Thunderbird/Savane Invitational
10: Big 12 Championship
11: The Maxwell by Pontiac
12: NCAA Central Regional

OSU at the NCAA Championship
NCAA Championship Results, 1947-96

                                                      OSU's Position After:
Year Champion       Runner-Up       Individual        1st   2nd   3rd  Final
                                    Champion          Rd.   Rd.   Rd.
1947 Louisiana      Duke            Dave Barclay,                       5th
     State                          Michigan                           (n/a)
1948 San Jose State Louisiana State Bob Harris, San                     5th
                                    Jose State                         (n/a)
1949 North Texas    Purdue/Texas    Harvie Ward,                        6th
                                    North Carolina                     (n/a)
1950 North Texas    Purdue          Fred Wampler,                      13th
                                    Purdue                             (n/a)
1951 North Texas    Ohio State      Tom Nieporte,                      11th
                                    Ohio State                         (n/a)
1952 North Texas    Michigan        Jim Vickers,                        5th
                                    Oklahoma                           (13)
1953 Stanford       North Carolina  Earl Moeller,                       4th
                                    Oklahoma State                      (4)
1954 So. Methodist  North Texas     Hillman Robbins,                    3rd
                                    Memphis State                       (6)
1955 Louisiana      North Texas     Joe Campbell,                       3rd
     State                          Purdue                             (13)
1956 Houston        N. Texas/Purdue Rick Jones, Ohio                    4th
                                    State                               (4)
1957 Houston        Stanford        Rex Baxter, Jr.,                   12th
                                    Houston                            (n/a)
1958 Houston        Oklahoma State  Phil Rodgers,                       2nd
                                    Houston                            (12)
1959 Houston        Purdue          Dick Crawford,                      5th
                                    Houston                            (18)
1960 Houston        OSU/Purdue      Dick Crawford,                      2nd
                                    Houston                             (4)
1961 Purdue         Arizona State   Jack Nicklaus,                      4th
                                    Ohio State                         (13)
1962 Houston        Oklahoma State  Kermit Zarley,                      2nd
                                    Houston                            (10)
1963 Oklahoma State Houston         R.H. Sikes,                         1st
                                    Arkansas                            (1)
1964 Houston        Oklahoma State  Terry Small, San                    2nd
                                    Jose State                          (7)
1965 Houston        Cal-State L.A.  Marty Fleckman,                     9th
                                    Houston                            (20)
1966 Houston        San Jose State  Bob Murphy,                         4th
                                    Florida                            (16)
1967 Houston        Florida         Hale Irwin,                        22nd
                                    Colorado                           (28)
1968 Florida        Houston         Grier Jones,                        4th
                                    Oklahoma State                      (8)
1969 Houston        Wake Forest     Bob Clark,                         10th
                                    Cal-State L.A.                     (32)
1970 Houston        Wake Forest     John Mahaffey,                      4th
                                    Houston                            (18)
1971 Texas          Houston         Ben Crenshaw,                       5th
                                    Texas                              (26)
1972 Texas          Houston         Ben Crenshaw,                       4th
                                    Tom Kite, Texas                    (28)
1973 Florida        Oklahoma State  Ben Crenshaw,                       2nd
                                    Texas                              (10)
1974 Wake Forest    Florida         Curtis Strange,                     5th
                                    Wake Forest                        (20)
1975 Wake Forest    Oklahoma State  Jay Haas, Wake                      2nd
                                    Forest                             (33)
1976 Oklahoma State Brigham Young   Scott Simpson,                      1st
                                    So. California                      (7)
1977 Houston        Oklahoma State  Scott Simpson,                      2nd
                                    So. California                      (8)
1978 Oklahoma State Georgia         David Edwards,    1st   2nd   1st   1st
                                    Oklahoma State    (1)   (2)  (10)  (17)
1979 Ohio State     Oklahoma State  Gary Hallberg,    9th   3rd   1st   2nd
                                    Wake Forest      (13)   (7)   (1)   (3)
1980 Oklahoma State Brigham Young   Jay Don Blake,    1st   1st   1st   1st
                                    Utah State        (1)   (4)  (tie)  (4)
1981 Brigham Young  Oral Roberts    Ron Commans, So. 11th  13th   8th   4th
                                    California       (11)  (18)  (14)  (10)
1982 Houston        Oklahoma State  Billy Ray Brown,  7th   3rd   2nd   2nd
                                    Houston           (7)   (3)  (12)  (10)
1983 Oklahoma State Texas           Jim Carter,       9th   1st   1st   1st
                                    Arizona State     (7)   (1)   (5)   (7)
1984 Houston        Oklahoma State  John Inman,       4th   1st   1st   2nd
                                    North Carolina    (3)   (1)   (3)   (1)
1985 Houston        Oklahoma State  Clark Burroughs,  8th   7th   2nd   2nd
                                    Ohio State        (9)  (12)   (1)   (3)
1986 Wake Forest    Oklahoma State  Scott Verplank,   4th   1st   1st   2nd
                                    Oklahoma State    (3)   (2)   (8)   (4)
1987 Oklahoma State Wake Forest     Brian Watts,      7th   1st   1st   1st
                                    Oklahoma State    (7)  (tie) (14)  (16)
1988 UCLA           OSU/Okla./UTEP  E.J. Pfister,     7th   8th   4th   2nd
                                    Oklahoma State    (7)  (12)   (8)   (3)
1989 Oklahoma       Texas           Phil Mickelson,   5th   4th   4th   4th
                                    Arizona State    (14)  (13)  (14)  (23)
1990 Arizona State  Florida         Phil Mickelson,   4th   6th   4th   4th
                                    Arizona State     (3)  (18)  (11)   (8)
1991 Oklahoma State North Carolina  Warren Schutte,   6th   1st   2nd   1st
                                    UNLV              (5)   (3)   (3)   (7)
1992 Arizona        Arizona State   Phil Mickelson,   2nd   3rd   4th   3rd
                                    Arizona State     (6)   (9)  (18)  (15)
1993 Florida        Georgia Tech    Todd Demsey,     21st  14th  13th  12th
                                    Arizona State    (17)  (27)  (36)  (43)
1994 Stanford       Texas           Justin Leonard,   2nd   5th   3rd   5th
                                    Texas             (7)   (7)   (2)  (11)
1995 Oklahoma State Stanford        Chip Spratlin,    5th   4th   4th   1st
                                    Auburn            (3)   (2)   (3)  (tie)
1996 Arizona State  UNLV            Tiger Woods,      6th  14th   8th   8th
                                    Stanford         (12)  (20)  (24)  (29)
1997 Pepperdine     Wake Forest     Charles Warren,   3rd  11th   3rd   5th
                                    Clemson           (4)  (13)   (6)   (8)
1998 UNLV           Clemson         James McLean,     1st   4th   3rd   4th
                                    Minnesota         (3)  (11)  (13)   (9)

1947 marked OSU's first NCAA Championship appearance.

The first number listed is OSU's position at the end of that round. The number in parentheses is OSU's margin behind the leader or ahead of the second-place team. For example, after one round in 1998, OSU led the second-place team by three strokes. After two rounds, OSU was in fourth place, 11 strokes behind the leader.

Prior to 1978, team scores were calculated by adding each school's four best 72-hole individual scores, as opposed to the current round-by-round scoring formula.

OSU won the 1995 championship in a playoff. The Cowboys, Oklahoma and Arizona were tied for 14th after two rounds in 1993; OSU and OU made the 15-team cut in a playoff with the Wildcats.

For year-by-year OSU individual scores, see pages 112-114 in the OSU men's golf media guide.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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