Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Ping/Golfweek Preview
Cowboys In First At Ping/Golfweek Preview
September 26, 2010 | Cowboy Golf
Sept. 26, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's men's golf team opened play on Sunday at the Ping/Golfweek Preview with a 288 score to stand in first place at Karsten Creek.
The Cowboys' even-par total on their home course gave them a nine-shot lead over Texas A&M and a 10-stroke advantage over Georgia Tech heading into tomorrow's second round. Individually, four of OSU's five starters finished the day in the top 10.
"I am very pleased. Any time you shoot even par at Karsten Creek you are not going to be upset with that if you are an individual and especially as a team," Cowboy head coach Mike McGraw said.
Facing a strong wind out of the north and cool temperatures, just two players in the 75-player field broke par at the par-72, 7,449-yard layout.
Playing in just his second event as a Cowboy, freshman Talor Gooch fired a 3-under 69 to lead Augusta State's Henrik Norlander by two shots.
"It was brutal out there and I am sure the scores will show that," Gooch said. "Being from Oklahoma, I am kind of used to these kind of conditions, so I think I have the upper hand when the wind gets to blowing."
Gooch used birdies at Nos. 4 and 5 to get to 2-under par for the day and rebounded from a bogey at the eighth with a birdie at No. 9 to turn at 2-under 34. The Midwest City, Okla., native made his fourth birdie of the day at the 11th before making a string of five-straight critical pars. Gooch quickly bounced back from a bogey at the 17th with a closing birdie at the 18th.
"My putting is what saved me today. I made a bunch of putts inside 10 feet and I can only remember missing one putt inside 10 feet all day. I drove the ball well, but my putting really saved me," Gooch said.
"Talor's round was good all day long, but at really critical times at 12, 13, 14 and 15, he made a seven-foot par putt, a six-foot downhill par putt, a five-foot par putt and a 12-foot par putt," McGraw added. "Four holes in a row he made critical putts and kept the round alive. That is how you end up shooting 69 on a hard day."
Coming in at even par was junior Peter Uihlein, who finished the day tied for third after posting his 72.
Fellow junior Morgan Hoffmann carded a 1-over 73 and finished the day tied for fifth place, while sophomore Drew Page posted a 74 in his first-ever start for the Cowboys to come in tied for eighth place.
Senior Kevin Tway signed for a 77 and finished tied for 34th.
The Cowboys will begin their second round tomorrow at 9:40 a.m. and will be grouped with Texas A&M and Georgia Tech.
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