Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Golf Finishes Fourth At NCAA Championship
June 01, 2008 | Cowboy Golf
The Cowboys wrapped up the event with a 48-over total of 1,200 to come in one shot ahead of Clemson and four strokes behind Southern California, which finished at 1,196, for third place. The top three spots on the leaderboard were separated by just two shots as UCLA claimed the team title with a 1,194 total to sneak past defending champion Stanford by one shot.
OSU's fourth-place showing marked the 48th time in the program's 62-year history the Cowboys have finished in the top five at the event.
Kevin Chappell made it a clean sweep for the Bruins, finishing as the only player under par at the par-72, 7,450-yard layout. Chappell carded a 76 during his final round for a 2-under 286 total to finish three shots clear of the field.
OSU freshman Rickie Fowler came in as the squad's top individual, posting a 1-over 73 on Saturday for a 72-hole total of 294, 6-over par. The Murrieta, Calif., native managed eight pars and one bogey on his outward nine before suffering bogeys on Nos. 11 and 14 to stand at 3-over with four holes remaining. However, Fowler posted back-to-back birdies on the Nos. 15 and 16 before closing with consecutive pars to wrap up play.
The fourth-place finish wrapped up a remarkable rookie year for Fowler that saw him finish in the top 10 in 10 of his 12 starts. The 2008 Ben Hogan Award winner also won twice on the year and was the nation's top-ranked player for the majority of the season.
For the fourth consecutive day, sophomore Trent Whitekiller improved his score, firing an even-par 72 to move into the top 10, tying for seventh place at 296. The Sallisaw, Okla., native bogeyed his third hole before moving under par with an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole. Whitekiller made the turn at 2-under after posting a birdie on his eighth hole on his way to the best finish of his career.
The top 10 was just the second of Whitekiller's career, but the second in his last three outings. Earlier this month, he tied for ninth place at The Maxwell.
Freshman Kevin Tway tied for 60th in his first career NCAA, posting an 84 on his way to a 311 total.
Junior Trent Leon carded a 78 on Saturday to finish tied for 64th at 313, while freshman Mark Johnson came in a stroke back at 314. Johnson carded his second consecutive 82 to tie for 69th place.
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