Oklahoma State rallies for win at Amer Ari Invitational
Courtesy of Oklahoma State Athletics
Oklahoma State took full advantage of a defenseless Hapuna Golf Course on Saturday to win the Amer Ari Invitational by a single stroke over Texas Tech.
The sixth-ranked Cowboys posted a record-tying 24-under score of 264 in the final round to erase a 10-shot deficit and finished the 54-hole event at 50-under 814, earning a one-stroke win over the Red Raiders.
Senior
Eugenio Chacarra led the Cowboys final round charge by shooting a course record 62 (-10) to take medalist honors at 19-under par, clipping Texas Tech's
Baard Skogen by two shots.
R.J. Manke of Washington and
Mason Andersen of Arizona State finished three back at 16-under 200.
Chacarra, who began the day tied for eighth place at 9-under 135 following rounds of 67 and 68, get off to a blazing start with birdies on three of his first five holes before making his lone bogey of the day on the par-4 ninth, his sixth hole of the day. Birdies followed on holes 10, 14, 16 and 18 and added his ninth birdie of the day on the par-4 second, his 17th hole of the day. The Spaniard closed off his round with an eagle on the par-5 third hole to set the Hapuna course record with a 62 to earn his first win as a collegian.
Chacarra's win will surely strengthen his position in the PGA TOUR University's Velocity Global Rankings, where he was ranked fifth at the beginning of the week. The top five players in the rankings at the end of the season earn Korn Ferry Tour membership and exemptions into all open, full-field events beginning the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Division-I National Championship through the end of the regular season; exemptions into Final Stage of the current season’s Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament; and exemptions onto a PGA TOUR international tour the following year.
Junior
Rayhan Thomas fired a final round 66 to finish in sole possession of fifth place at 15-under 201 while
Brian Stark carded a 68 to move into a tie for 13th place at 10-under 206. The Cowboys also counted a 4-under 68 from sophomore
Jonas Baumgartner to earn their second team title of the season.
Skogen was 4-under on his round but could not find a birdie over his last seven holes and finished two off the lead after signing for a 68.
ABOUT THE
The Amer Ari Intercollegiate -- hosted by the
University of Hawaii-Hilo -- has brought some of the best golfers in the nation to the west side of the Big Island annually since its inception in 1992. From Tiger Woods to Jordan Spieth to Matt Kuchar, the Amer Ari Intercollegiate has hosted a myriad of players through the years who have gone on to professional stardom.
The event was originally played at Hapuna Golf Course at Mauna Kea Resort before moving to the Waikoloa Beach Resort. The Amer Ari returned to Hapuna during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the event was moved to Mauna Lani. The Amer Ari is a 54-hole collegiate men's event with individual and team competitions.
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