Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Claim Title At Callaway Golf Collegiate Match Play Championship
October 31, 2006 | Cowboy Golf
Despite competing without first-team All-Americans Pablo Martin and Jonathan Moore, the fourth-seeded Cowboys rolled through the bracket, winning 15 of their 20 individual matches to claim the event for the second time. OSU also won the match play crown in 2004.
"We are very fortunate that we have two players (Martin and Moore) that have played well enough to represent their country," said Oklahoma State Associate Head Coach Alan Bratton. "To be a good team you have to have depth and this win was good for developing that depth. We had some guys playing this week who haven't had a chance to experience a team win or an individual win and with this format they now have both. This outcome hopefully changed their mental outlook - or at least helped - with wins against tough competition."
The Cowboys were led once again by senior Ryan Posey, who finished the event with a 4-0 mark after defeating Oliver Bekker, 2 and 1. The Dallas, Texas native trailed early in his match, but won Nos. 3 and 4 to gain a lead he would maintain for the remainder of the match.
Redshirt freshman Trent Whitekiller was impressive in his match play debut after making short work of Justin Harding. The Sallisaw, Okla. native needed just 12 holes to wrap up a 6 and 5 win and finish with a 3-1 mark overall.
Senior Tyler Leon won his final three holes against Russell Helson to earn a 4 and 2 win and finished the tournament unbeaten with a 3-0-1 record.
True freshman Chris Ward finished 3-1 in the event after Dusty Smith slipped past the McKinney, Texas native, 1-up, while Trent Leon finished the tournament with a 2-2 record after falling 3 and 2 to Casey Clendenon.
The tournament wrapped up the fall slate for the Cowboys, who will return to action on Feb. 7 at the Waikoloa Intercollegiate in Kona, Hawaii.
Championship Match (4) Oklahoma State def. (11) Lamar, 3-2 Tyler Leon, Oklahoma State def. Russell Helson, Lamar, 4 and 2 Casey Clendenon, Lamar, def. Trent Leon, Oklahoma State, 3 and 2 Ryan Posey, Oklahoma State def. Oliver Bekker, Lamar, 2 and 1 Trent Whitekiller, Oklahoma State def. Justin Harding, Lamar, 6 and 5 Dusty Smith, Lamar def. Chris Ward, Oklahoma State, 1-up
