Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Ready For Regional Action In Stillwater
May 12, 2009 | Cowboy Golf
May 12, 2009
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Cowboy Golf Set For Regional Action In Stillwater
Oklahoma State's men's golf team will be in search of an unprecedented 63rd-straight NCAA Championship appearance this week when it begins NCAA Regional play on Thursday at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater. The No. 2-ranked Cowboys, who have won their last two tournaments, will be the top seed on their home course and will begin play at 8:30 a.m. (CST). OSU will be paired with Arkansas and TCU at the par-72, 7,407-yard layout. Pairings for the second and third rounds will be done according to team standings. Live scoring will be available at golfstat.com.
New Format
This year will see the implementation of a new format. Gone is the three-regional, 27-team setup that saw the top 10 teams and two individuals on non-qualifying teams advance to the championship finals. The new qualifying format features six regionals with three sites hosting 13 teams and 10 individuals, while the other three regionals have 14 teams and five individuals. Five teams and one individual not on those teams will advance from each regional to the NCAA Championship at Inverness Club May 26-30 in Toledo, Ohio.
Competing At Karsten
This week's regional will be the fifth men's collegiate event held at Karsten Creek. The Tom Fazio design's first tournament was the 1996 Karsten Creek Collegiate and was followed by the NCAA Central Regional in 2001. The Ping/Golfweek Preview was held in the fall of 2002 with the NCAA Championship being contested in the spring of 2003. OSU's best finish on its home course was its runner-up showing in 2003.
Regional Rewind ... 2008 NCAA Central Regional
OSU carded a 297 during its final round at the NCAA Central Regional to climb into second place at Ohio State's Scarlet Course. OSU finished with a 37-over total of 889 to come in 10 shots behind tournament champion Wake Forest. The Cowboys entered the final 18 holes tied for sixth place, but fired the low round of the day, coming in as the only team among the 27 in the field to break 300. In addition to moving on to the NCAA Championship, the Cowboys produced the regional medalist in Kevin Tway. The Edmond, Okla., native entered the final day at 3-under after firing rounds of 70 and 69 before closing with a 75. Tway's 1-over 214 total put him one shot clear of the field. Trent Leon tied for fifth, finishing at 217, while Rickie Fowler carded his low round of the tournament with a 73 to move into a tie for 20th place at 224. Mark Johnson tied for 115th place at 236 and Trent Whitekiller finished at 239 and tied for 125th.
What 2 Watch 4
The Cowboys will be looking to advance to the NCAA Championship for the 63rd consecutive time ... OSU has put together an unprecedented string of 62 consecutive appearances that becomes that much more impressive when considering the second-longest streak is Georgia's 11-straight berths ... OSU has won three of its last four events with victories at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate, the Aggie Invitational and the Big 12 Championship... OSU also produced the individual medalist in four of its last five tournaments as well with three different Cowboys finishing first during that stretch.
