Oklahoma State University Athletics
Top-Seeded Cowboys Ready For NCAA Central Regional
May 19, 2004 | Cowboy Golf
Oklahoma State's men's golf team will be in search of an unprecedented 58th-straight NCAA Championship appearance this week when it begins play at the NCAA Central Regional on Thursday. The top-seeded Cowboys head to Purdue's 7,259-yard, par-72 Kampen Course fresh off a victory last weekend at The Maxwell. The 27-team field will play 18 holes on each of the event's three days at the Pete Dye layout. The tournament will be OSU's second on the course this spring after the Cowboys finished 8th at the Boilermaker Invitational held in April. OSU will begin first-round play at 11:15 a.m. and will be paired with Texas and TCU before teeing off at 7:12 a.m. on Friday with the Longhorns and Horned Frogs.
OSU AT THE CENTRAL REGIONAL
The Cowboys have captured five regional titles, including the last two, since the inception of the current qualifying format in 1989. During that span, four players have claimed individual medalist honors as well with Bo Van Pelt being the last player to do so in 1997. Last year, the Cowboys defended their regional title with a five-stroke victory over Illinois at Colbert Hills Golf Club in Manhattan, Kansas.
POKES WIN THIRD CONSECUTIVE MAXWELL TITLE
Oklahoma State's men's golf team won its third consecutive team title at The Maxwell on Sunday after posting a 54-hole total of 833, seven-under, at Dornick Hills Country Club. The Cowboys entered the day with a seven stroke lead after blistering the par-70, 6,453-yard layout with a 15-under total of 265 during the second round, bettering the best 18-hole score in tournament history by six strokes. OSU carded a 284 final-round score to finish six strokes clear of runner-up Augusta State, which posted the low round of the day at 278 to move up from fourth place. Individually, junior Alex Norén carded his second consecutive 69 to finish in eighth place at 208, two-under. Sophomore Zack Robinson, who tied the tournament's 18-hole scoring record with a six-under-par 64 during his second round, finished with a 71 on Sunday to finish in a tie for ninth place at 209 and earn his first top 10 of the year. Fellow sophomore Chris Clarke followed up a second-round 66 with a 74 during his final round to tie for 15th place at 211. True freshmen Casey Wittenberg and Tyler Leon tied for 21st place at 213, three-over, after final rounds of 73 and 71, respectively, to round out the Cowboy lineup.
THE HOLDER ERA
In his 31st season at the helm, Mike Holder is only the second coach in the history of the Cowboy program. Under the tutelage of former Cowboy coach Labron Harris, Holder achieved All-America status and was the 1970 Big Eight medalist. As a coach, Holder has captured eight national championships and 24 league championships. Under his direction, the Cowboys have placed first or second at the national tournament 18 times in 30 appearances. Under his direction, the Cowboys have entered 432 tournaments, winning 40 percent of the time (171 victories).
