Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Advance to Championship at Callaway Golf Collegiate Match Play
October 31, 2006 | Cowboy Golf
Despite playing without first-team All-Americans Pablo Martin and Jonathan Moore, the fourth-seeded Cowboys have been impressive, posting a 12-2-1 record individually on their way to a 3-0 team mark and their berth in the championship match.
"We really like this event," said OSU Associate Head Coach Alan Bratton. "Match play is great training for stroke play because there aren't many chances to win in college golf and in match play there's an opportunity to win every hole. Our guys like playing this course and it is a real treat to play Colonial in the first college tournament it has ever hosted. We have a chance to see guys we normally wouldn't see (without Martin and Moore) and it's nice to see that we have depth. We came with the same expectations and goals as always and we're looking forward to tomorrow."
Individually, a pair of Cowboys remained perfect as senior Ryan Posey and true freshman Chris Ward moved to 3-0 in the event. Posey won his final hole to slip past Toby Ragland, 1-up, while Ward posted a 2 and 1 victory over Tyson Alexander in a match that the Cowboy rookie led on four separate occasions and put away by winning his 17th hole.
Redshirt freshman Trent Whitekiller also posted a 2 and 1 win, while senior Tyler Leon halved his match with Billy Horschel.
Manuel Villegas notched the lone victory for the Gators, slipping past Trent Leon by a 2 and 1 count.
In tomorrow's final tilt, OSU will take on 11th-seeded Lamar, which knocked off No. 7 seed Texas A&M to advance. The Cowboys will be looking for their second match play title after winning the event in 2004.
Third Round Results (4) Oklahoma State def. (1) Florida, 3-1-1 Tyler Leon, Oklahoma State halved Billy Horschel, Florida Manuel Villegas, Florida def. Trent Leon, Oklahoma State, 2 and 1 Ryan Posey, Oklahoma State def. Toby Ragland, Florida, 1-up Trent Whitekiller, Oklahoma State def. Tyler Brown, Florida, 2 and 1 Chris Ward, Oklahoma State def. Tyson Alexander, Florida, 2 and 1
