Oklahoma State University Athletics
A Perfect Fit
April 18, 2025 | Cowboy Golf
Preston Stout was made to be an Oklahoma State Cowboy and Stillwater, Oklahoma was tailored for the likes of Preston Stout.
One of the nation's most highly-sought golf prospects coming out of Richardson, Texas, Stout made history in 2023 when he joined Jordan Spieth as the only other player to with the Byron Nelson Junior Championship three times.
Among those suitors was Alan Bratton, who aimed to add the first-team AJGA All-American to a lengthy list of Cowboys standouts from the Lone Star State. OSU's pipeline of stars from Texas includes Lindy Miller, Scott Verplank, Brian Watts Trip Kuehne, Edward Loar, Hunter Mahan and Bratton himself.
Like so many Cowboys before him, Stout aspires to play the game at the highest level and it became clear early in the recruiting process where his college of choice would likely be.
"My first visit up here was during the Pro-Am weekend and that was really cool to see, all the support our golf team has and how much the donors and the school really care about the golf program here. You don't really see that at a lot of other places," Stout said.
The epitome of a college town, Stillwater is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Exactly what Stout desired off the course as well.
"Stillwater itself, I love it. Being from Dallas, I did not really like it growing up, a lot of people and a lot of traffic. I definitely like being in more of a rural town, not as many people and everything is pretty close," Stout said.
The opportunities to pursue trophies of another kind is readily available as well for somebody with a passion for hunting and fishing.
"I love it here and loved it when I came on my visits. I just knew immediately where I wanted to be. I wanted to go to a school where I could make sure I was going be able to keep doing what I love and being in the outdoors," Stout said.
Like many freshmen transitioning to college, Stout learned the value of time management and being on your own for the first time.
"It is definitely a big change going from high school to college and you have to figure out a routine for yourself that kind of works, being able to balance golf and school and hanging out with your buddies," Stout said.
As part of a veteran-laden squad last season, it was Stout who was the first to come to the forefront of a talented freshman class and find his footing during the closing stretch of the year.
Described by Bratton as mentally tough and uber competitive as well as a gifted iron player and driver of the ball, Stout gave glimpses throughout his rookie campaign of his exceptional talent.
His first round of the spring in 2024 came at the Amer Ari Invitational where he fired a 62 to match the school's 18-hole scoring record after posting an 8-under 28 on the closing nine with an eagle and a run of six consecutive birdies. He would go on to finish tied for 28th before adding a 12th-place finish at the Pauma Valley Invitational.
"I started out the spring playing well and was just not able to close out those final rounds," Stout said.
And then the Big 12 Championship happened.
After an opening 74, he started to make his move with a 69 during the second round. Stout would blitz Whispering Pines Golf Club with an eight-birdie performance in the third round to move into second place, just two shots off the pace heading into the final round.
Not only did Stout close, he showcased a flair for the dramatic as well, making a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to cap a bogey-free 69 and earn his first career victory. With his triumph, he joined the likes of Charles Howell, Mahan, Rickie Fowler, Morgan Hoffmann and became the 11th Cowboy crowned as a Big 12 champion.
"It definitely gave me a lot of confidence. To be able to win and show myself that I could win at this level and compete with these guys was huge for me," Stout said.
"Confidence is a big thing in golf and to know that I don't have to do anything special and have to play absolutely out of my mind to be able to go and win was really big."
Stout did not stop there. His first collegiate victory was immediately followed by a 22nd-place finish at the Korn Ferry Tour's Veritex Bank Championship where he fired scores of 67, 64, 68 and 67 to finish at 18-under 266. Not only was the performance beneficial for Stout, but could permeate the team as well.
"Preston getting in the Korn Ferry event last year and making some noise with a top 25 was great to see and great for his confidence. It gave our guys reason to think they can do the same and if we have guys thinking that way with big goals in mind it is a win all the way around," Bratton said.
"He is coming into his own as a leader, has plenty of people to push him and it is exciting to watch his progression."
A talented multi-sport athlete growing up in Texas, Stout showed his decision to pursue golf was the right one, earning all-league status.
With the bar raised this season, there has been no sophomore slump for Stout, who has risen to No. 15 in the national individual rankings. Undoubtedly, he has benefited from a freshman season in which he was thrown into the fire and has become more comfortable managing all things that come with being a student-athlete.
"I think I am doing a lot better at that this year and I feel like my golf game is definitely improved because of that. I think I'm way more comfortable and being comfortable with the routine and all the early mornings and as much golf as we're playing," Stout said.
"I wasn't really used to playing so much golf last year. So, to get in a routine and just get your body used to playing so much, definitely helped and this summer I played a lot more golf than I have in the past summer, so that definitely helped blend into the fall season."
In the spring opener, Stout duplicated his performance in Hawaii and once again opened with a 62 that featured a barrage of eight birdies and an eagle. He and the Cowboys would go on to log their second win of the year.
In OSU's next outing, Stout would close with rounds of 68 and 66 to finish in third place at the Gators Invitational before returning to the winner's circle at the Cabo Collegiate. He has not finished outside the top 10 in his last three starts and has helped the Cowboys rack up four team titles this season with the Cowboys rising to No. 3 nationally along the way.
Far from the finished product, Stout has just scratched the surface of his potential and has continued to grow into his leadership role during year two.
"Preston's built off the success he had last year and has really had for a number of years. His progression has been really, really good. He is a good ball hitter and coming into his own as a leader," Bratton said.
With his game in great form, Stout is prepared to defend his individual Big 12 title and will look to lead OSU to its 12th Big 12 crown when play gets underway next week at historic Southern Hills in Tulsa.
With the postseason rapidly approaching, Stout and his teammates are looking to add their names to the trophy hallway at their home course.
"When we walk into Karsten every day we see a bunch of names on the wall and a bunch of really good names that have had a lot of success," Stout said. "Putting your name in our in our program's history book and on the walls at Karsten is always something that I've worked toward. It is motivating when success and greatness is around you all the time."
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One of the nation's most highly-sought golf prospects coming out of Richardson, Texas, Stout made history in 2023 when he joined Jordan Spieth as the only other player to with the Byron Nelson Junior Championship three times.
Among those suitors was Alan Bratton, who aimed to add the first-team AJGA All-American to a lengthy list of Cowboys standouts from the Lone Star State. OSU's pipeline of stars from Texas includes Lindy Miller, Scott Verplank, Brian Watts Trip Kuehne, Edward Loar, Hunter Mahan and Bratton himself.
Like so many Cowboys before him, Stout aspires to play the game at the highest level and it became clear early in the recruiting process where his college of choice would likely be.
"My first visit up here was during the Pro-Am weekend and that was really cool to see, all the support our golf team has and how much the donors and the school really care about the golf program here. You don't really see that at a lot of other places," Stout said.
The epitome of a college town, Stillwater is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Exactly what Stout desired off the course as well.
"Stillwater itself, I love it. Being from Dallas, I did not really like it growing up, a lot of people and a lot of traffic. I definitely like being in more of a rural town, not as many people and everything is pretty close," Stout said.
The opportunities to pursue trophies of another kind is readily available as well for somebody with a passion for hunting and fishing.
"I love it here and loved it when I came on my visits. I just knew immediately where I wanted to be. I wanted to go to a school where I could make sure I was going be able to keep doing what I love and being in the outdoors," Stout said.
Like many freshmen transitioning to college, Stout learned the value of time management and being on your own for the first time.
"It is definitely a big change going from high school to college and you have to figure out a routine for yourself that kind of works, being able to balance golf and school and hanging out with your buddies," Stout said.
As part of a veteran-laden squad last season, it was Stout who was the first to come to the forefront of a talented freshman class and find his footing during the closing stretch of the year.
Described by Bratton as mentally tough and uber competitive as well as a gifted iron player and driver of the ball, Stout gave glimpses throughout his rookie campaign of his exceptional talent.
His first round of the spring in 2024 came at the Amer Ari Invitational where he fired a 62 to match the school's 18-hole scoring record after posting an 8-under 28 on the closing nine with an eagle and a run of six consecutive birdies. He would go on to finish tied for 28th before adding a 12th-place finish at the Pauma Valley Invitational.
"I started out the spring playing well and was just not able to close out those final rounds," Stout said.
And then the Big 12 Championship happened.
After an opening 74, he started to make his move with a 69 during the second round. Stout would blitz Whispering Pines Golf Club with an eight-birdie performance in the third round to move into second place, just two shots off the pace heading into the final round.
Not only did Stout close, he showcased a flair for the dramatic as well, making a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to cap a bogey-free 69 and earn his first career victory. With his triumph, he joined the likes of Charles Howell, Mahan, Rickie Fowler, Morgan Hoffmann and became the 11th Cowboy crowned as a Big 12 champion.
"It definitely gave me a lot of confidence. To be able to win and show myself that I could win at this level and compete with these guys was huge for me," Stout said.
"Confidence is a big thing in golf and to know that I don't have to do anything special and have to play absolutely out of my mind to be able to go and win was really big."
Stout did not stop there. His first collegiate victory was immediately followed by a 22nd-place finish at the Korn Ferry Tour's Veritex Bank Championship where he fired scores of 67, 64, 68 and 67 to finish at 18-under 266. Not only was the performance beneficial for Stout, but could permeate the team as well.
"Preston getting in the Korn Ferry event last year and making some noise with a top 25 was great to see and great for his confidence. It gave our guys reason to think they can do the same and if we have guys thinking that way with big goals in mind it is a win all the way around," Bratton said.
"He is coming into his own as a leader, has plenty of people to push him and it is exciting to watch his progression."
A talented multi-sport athlete growing up in Texas, Stout showed his decision to pursue golf was the right one, earning all-league status.
With the bar raised this season, there has been no sophomore slump for Stout, who has risen to No. 15 in the national individual rankings. Undoubtedly, he has benefited from a freshman season in which he was thrown into the fire and has become more comfortable managing all things that come with being a student-athlete.
"I think I am doing a lot better at that this year and I feel like my golf game is definitely improved because of that. I think I'm way more comfortable and being comfortable with the routine and all the early mornings and as much golf as we're playing," Stout said.
"I wasn't really used to playing so much golf last year. So, to get in a routine and just get your body used to playing so much, definitely helped and this summer I played a lot more golf than I have in the past summer, so that definitely helped blend into the fall season."
In the spring opener, Stout duplicated his performance in Hawaii and once again opened with a 62 that featured a barrage of eight birdies and an eagle. He and the Cowboys would go on to log their second win of the year.
In OSU's next outing, Stout would close with rounds of 68 and 66 to finish in third place at the Gators Invitational before returning to the winner's circle at the Cabo Collegiate. He has not finished outside the top 10 in his last three starts and has helped the Cowboys rack up four team titles this season with the Cowboys rising to No. 3 nationally along the way.
Far from the finished product, Stout has just scratched the surface of his potential and has continued to grow into his leadership role during year two.
"Preston's built off the success he had last year and has really had for a number of years. His progression has been really, really good. He is a good ball hitter and coming into his own as a leader," Bratton said.
With his game in great form, Stout is prepared to defend his individual Big 12 title and will look to lead OSU to its 12th Big 12 crown when play gets underway next week at historic Southern Hills in Tulsa.
With the postseason rapidly approaching, Stout and his teammates are looking to add their names to the trophy hallway at their home course.
"When we walk into Karsten every day we see a bunch of names on the wall and a bunch of really good names that have had a lot of success," Stout said. "Putting your name in our in our program's history book and on the walls at Karsten is always something that I've worked toward. It is motivating when success and greatness is around you all the time."
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