Oklahoma State University Athletics
Howell Begins Professional Career
June 27, 2000 | Cowboy Golf
June 27, 2000
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State men's golfer Charles Howell announced Tuesday that he will forego his senior season and begin his professional career.
Howell recently completed one of the outstanding performances in NCAA men's golf history, winning the national championship by eight strokes and setting the NCAA Tournament scoring record with a 23-under-par score, breaking the old record by six shots. He earned the Jack Nicklaus Award, recognizing him as the national player of the year. His eight-shot margin of victory is the biggest in at least the last 27 years of NCAA Championship events.
He became OSU's seventh NCAA champion in leading the Cowboys to their ninth national title. Besides his amazing score, he also made two par putts on the 18th hole in the tournament's final day, the first sent the championship to a playoff, and the second clinched a playoff victory for Oklahoma State.
Howell also won the Big 12 championship with a record score of 10-under-par 200, defeating second-place teammate Edward Loar by 10 shots. He was named the league's men's golf player of the year and student-athlete of the year and then also earned overall Big 12 Athlete of the Year honors.
Howell finished his junior season with a stroke average of 69.57, believed to be a national record. He tied for 10th in school history with five individual tournament trophies.
