Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Golf, Karsten Creek and the 2011 NCAA Championship
September 22, 2010 | Cowboy Golf
Sept. 22, 2010
By Ryan Cameron
OSU Media Relations
On two occasions, Oklahoma State has been fortunate enough to host the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship. However, both tournaments produced an unfortunate result for the home team as the Cowboys came away with the runner-up trophy each time.
With Stillwater Country Club serving as the backdrop in 1973, Florida finished 10 shots clear of OSU. In the process, the Gators denied legendary head coach Labron Harris, Sr. a national title in his final season at the helm of the Cowboy program.
Thirty years later, Stillwater returned to the center of the college golf world with Clemson hoisting the trophy. The Tigers squeaked out a two-shot victory over Mike Holder's squad in the championship's inaugural visit to Karsten Creek.
This spring, the Cowboy faithful will once again get the chance to walk the pristine zoysia fairways at the Tom Fazio layout while the school's current crop of superstars vie for the program's 11th national title. The home of Cowboy Golf will once again play host to college golf's grandest event May 31-June 5.
With the opportunity to watch their team compete for a national title a rare one, the OSU fans will be treated to a squad that enters the year as the top-ranked squad in the land. Head coach Mike McGraw's crew has firepower aplenty with three of the top amateurs not only in college golf, but the world in the lineup.
In the final R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking this summer, three of the top 20 amateur players on the planet were Cowboys. Junior Peter Uihlein (No. 1), senior Kevin Tway (No. 7) and junior Morgan Hoffmann (No. 16) carry impressive credentials into the school year, highlighted by Uihlein's win this summer at the U.S. Amateur.
With the talented trio leading the way, there is no better place for the Cowboys' attempt to erase the disappointment of last year's NCAA runner-up finish than Karsten Creek.
Because of the nature of the sport, golf does not offer many home games, making the presence of large galleries magnified. Year-in and year-out, the extent of fan support for the Cowboys is limited to refreshing the live scoring page on their computer screen.
With that in mind, a home-crowd advantage may border on immeasurable, especially for a proud program looking to win its first national title since 2006.
Hosting will change the dynamic of the fans' involvement, allowing the same following that provides the football and basketball teams with a decided advantage its chance to tilt Karsten Creek in the Cowboys' favor.
"It is very important. In college golf you don't get a lot of fans. Any national championship other than golf there is a huge crowd," Hoffmann said. "This year is going to be different because it is in Stillwater and Oklahoma State. It is going to be huge."
Tway proved two years ago at the NCAA South Central Regional he is plenty comfortable in the confines of his home course, edging out Uihlein for medalist honors.
On their way to the regional team title, the Cowboys proved the home-course advantage can and does exist, rolling to a 22-shot victory and producing four players in the top 15.
The comforts of home are a luxury not lost on Tway.
"I am really excited for it. With The Preview this fall and the NCAAs this spring it is going to be a big advantage for our team because we play out here every day. I think playing this golf course a lot is going to be a really big advantage."
For both previous NCAA Championships, Cowboy fans turned out in droves to provide unmatched support. Hoffmann expects nothing less this time around, knowing the emphasis placed on the golf program in Stillwater.
"Coach (McGraw) told us in 2003, they had about 3,000 people out here, and he said it is going to be a lot more this year. It is going to be great having that many fans out supporting us, yelling for us and being a little bias."
While there is much work to be done leading up to college golf's crowning event, Hoffmann admittedly has taken a peek at what lies ahead.
"It is going to be amazing--the support and the fans and the history here at Oklahoma State. Being able to play for a team on your home course is so special."
For Tway, the NCAA Championship will carry added meaning. Not only will it serve as his final tournament as a Cowboy, it will be conducted in his home state and is a chance to end his career in style.
"It is going to be awesome to get to sleep in our own beds and have all of our people come out," Tway said. "Our parents and friends and family can come out, so it is going to be really exciting and I am really fortunate to have that for my last tournament."
Cowboy fans can get a sneak peek at what to expect next spring when OSU hosts the Ping/Golfweek Preview at Karsten Creek later this month. On Sept. 26-28, 15 of the top college golf teams in the country, including McGraw's bunch, will be in action.
