Oklahoma State University Athletics
At a Grips Length: Bunkers, B-52 Flight Define Cowgirls’ Bedlam Cup Run
March 26, 2024 | Cowgirl Golf
Both Oklahoma State and Oklahoma coaches huddled around hole No. 17.
With phone calls, an entourage of golf carts and a fighter jet flight mixed in between – confusion was in the air among spectators at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.
Thitaporn Saithip's ball kept rolling into the bunker.
"I hadn't really ever seen anything like that before," OSU head coach Greg Robertson said.
With the Cowgirls trailing two team points during afternoon singles, OSU needed a rally with four matches remaining on the docket. The afternoon's third group, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Marta Silchenko, erased the deficit, tying play with 3 & 2 victories on hole No. 16. After battling from two shots down, Angelica Pfefferkorn notched the Cowgirls its first lead of the day off a 1UP win to jump ahead, 4.5-3.5 – placing on the pressure on the event's final face-off between Saithip and Gracie Mayo.
As Saithip led Mayo 1UP entering the 17th hole, the sixth Bedlam Cup was on the line. But after Saithip's tee shot, USGA officials were on the other.
Playing in a lift, clean and place format at a grip length due to wet conditions, Saithip's tee shot landed just outside of the par-4's fairway bunker. Under traditional circumstances, you mark, clean and play your ball where it lies. However, stooped on a steep hill, Saithip's ball continued to fall into the bunker upon each placement.
"She marked it, she claimed it, but it was on a steep hill," Robertson said. "So anywhere that was a grip length would fall back into the bunker. You can't play it in the bunker when it was originally outside of the bunker."
As Robertson, assistant coach Maddi Swaney and Oklahoma's staff tinkered with ball placements, Tinker Air Force may have been anticipating an arrival. With an assembly line of loaded golf carts watching, a B-52 fighter jet flew over the course, putting a halt to course activity while taking an already unique intermission to new heights.
Following the fighter jet's appearance, USGA rule officials confirmed the coaches' call over the phone regarding Saithip's shot, placing her in a similar situation outside of the bunker.
Saithip held on in the hole, taking the ball about 100 yards from the green before matching Mayo with a bogey.
As the pair approached the final hole, the only looming threat would've been darkness. However, Saithip carried some light, getting to the green in three shots before sealing the Bedlam Cup with a gimme putt.
Phone calls, an entourage of golf carts and a fighter jet flight overhead later – Oklahoma State and Oklahoma golfers huddled around the final hole as play concluded Friday. But this time, the confusion was swapped for compliments from both sides in what was an exciting day on the course.
With phone calls, an entourage of golf carts and a fighter jet flight mixed in between – confusion was in the air among spectators at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.
Thitaporn Saithip's ball kept rolling into the bunker.
"I hadn't really ever seen anything like that before," OSU head coach Greg Robertson said.
With the Cowgirls trailing two team points during afternoon singles, OSU needed a rally with four matches remaining on the docket. The afternoon's third group, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Marta Silchenko, erased the deficit, tying play with 3 & 2 victories on hole No. 16. After battling from two shots down, Angelica Pfefferkorn notched the Cowgirls its first lead of the day off a 1UP win to jump ahead, 4.5-3.5 – placing on the pressure on the event's final face-off between Saithip and Gracie Mayo.
As Saithip led Mayo 1UP entering the 17th hole, the sixth Bedlam Cup was on the line. But after Saithip's tee shot, USGA officials were on the other.
Playing in a lift, clean and place format at a grip length due to wet conditions, Saithip's tee shot landed just outside of the par-4's fairway bunker. Under traditional circumstances, you mark, clean and play your ball where it lies. However, stooped on a steep hill, Saithip's ball continued to fall into the bunker upon each placement.
"She marked it, she claimed it, but it was on a steep hill," Robertson said. "So anywhere that was a grip length would fall back into the bunker. You can't play it in the bunker when it was originally outside of the bunker."
As Robertson, assistant coach Maddi Swaney and Oklahoma's staff tinkered with ball placements, Tinker Air Force may have been anticipating an arrival. With an assembly line of loaded golf carts watching, a B-52 fighter jet flew over the course, putting a halt to course activity while taking an already unique intermission to new heights.
Following the fighter jet's appearance, USGA rule officials confirmed the coaches' call over the phone regarding Saithip's shot, placing her in a similar situation outside of the bunker.
Saithip held on in the hole, taking the ball about 100 yards from the green before matching Mayo with a bogey.
As the pair approached the final hole, the only looming threat would've been darkness. However, Saithip carried some light, getting to the green in three shots before sealing the Bedlam Cup with a gimme putt.
Phone calls, an entourage of golf carts and a fighter jet flight overhead later – Oklahoma State and Oklahoma golfers huddled around the final hole as play concluded Friday. But this time, the confusion was swapped for compliments from both sides in what was an exciting day on the course.
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
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