Defending champ Oklahoma is priming themselves for postseason play
(Oklahoma Athletics Photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 31, 2018) - The defending National Champions could be finding themselves at just the right time of year. After taking The Goodwin lead on Friday in the second round the eighth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners closed out their third title of the year and second straight with a 24-under finish on Saturday that put them three shots clear of runner-up No. 10 Cal (-21).
Playing at TPC Harding Park No. 18 Stanford (-16) was third, Oregon (-10) took fourth while No. 23 UNLV (-3) was well back in fifth.
Oklahoma, winners also of the Nike Collegiate Invitational in early October and Lone Star Invitational in March, placed four players in the top-10 led by 2016 U.S. Amateur runner-up Brad Dalke (T5; -6). The junior played his best round on Friday carding a bogey-free 5-under 66.
Behind Dalke for the Sooners came Grant Hirschman (T7; -5), Blaine Hale (T7; -5) and Quade Cummins (T10; -4).
In the medalist race Oregon's Norman Xiong made it two in a row after capturing the Duke Invitational a week ago. Now a four-time winner this year, Xiong signed for a final round 3-under 68 to post a 15-under tally and a six-stroke victory.
Xiong started the tournament with consecutive rounds of 65-65 before recording five birdies and two bogeys during his Saturday final round. Just 1-under through the first 14-holes Xiong put an exclamation point on his round carding consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.
First round leader Jeffrey Swegle of Stanford was second at 9-under, Cal's Sebastian Crampton was 8-under in third, Sam Triplett of Northwestern signed for a fourth place finish at 7-under while the 5-under Dalke was fifth.
About The Goodwin:
Originally named the United States Intercollegiate, this event was renamed The Goodwin prior to the 2014 edition in honor of former Cardinal head coach Wally Goodwin. Goodwin coached at Stanford from 1987-2000, and his tenure was highlighted by winning the 1994 national title. Goodwin was named national coach of the year in 1992 and 1994. Goodwin recruited and coached standouts such as Tiger Woods, Casey Martin, Notah Begay, Joel Kribel and current Stanford head coach Conrad Ray, among many other stars from Stanford's proud golfing tradition.
ABOUT THE
The Goodwin
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by
Stanford University that honors former Stanford head coach Wally Goodwin, who elevated the program during his tenure of 1987 to 2000 by recruiting players like Notah Begay and Tiger Woods. Team (best four scores out of
five
players each round) and individual competitions.
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