OU Golf: Oklahoma Repeats as Big 12 Champs

Ryan Hybl's squad went wire-to-wire to win the conference for the third time in five years, the most successful stretch in program history.

By OU Media Relations

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – For the second year in a row, the Oklahoma men's golf team stands atop the Big 12 Conference. 

The 10th-ranked Sooners ran away from the field at Prairie Dunes Country Club at the Big 12 Championship this week, winning by 18 strokes in a wire-to-wire domination to secure the program's 19th conference title. 

Oklahoma's title marked the third under head coach Ryan Hybl as the Sooners also won the crown in 2018 and 2022. In addition, a league-best three OU golfers finished inside the top 10 to earn All-Tournament honors. 

"This still feels like the first time because it's so special," Hybl said. "For us to have won three of the last five Big 12 Championships is so awesome. But this one was extra special because we got to enjoy the walk a little bit more on the back nine there with the lead. 

"Overall, I'm just really proud of our guys for digging in their heels and grinding. This place is so difficult and to shoot under par at Prairie Dunes over four rounds with five guys is really special."

The Sooners' 72-hole score of 1,119 (-1) was a program record for a four-round tournament and also set a Big 12 record at Prairie Dunes by 10 shots. The only team under par for the week, Oklahoma dominated to go back-to-back for the first time since 1956-57. 

Patrick Welch was one of four golfers under par as the All-American earned All-Tournament honors for the third time in his career. The redshirt senior carded rounds of 70-68-70-70 to finish at 278 (-2), tied for the second-lowest 72-hole score in Oklahoma history.

All-Tournament selection Drew Goodman followed Welch on the leaderboard, signing for an even-par 280 at Prairie Dunes, the fourth-lowest all-time by a Sooner. 

Rounding out the OU contingent on the All-Tournament Team, Ben Lorenz fired a team-low 69 (-1) on Wednesday to share sixth overall with a 282 (+2). Freshman Jase Summy (t-24, +12) fired two even-par rounds on the week and Jake Holbrook subbed in for Stephen Campbell Jr. at the tournament's halfway point and fired 72-71.

Hybl has now turned in the best stretch in program history. Since taking over at Oklahoma in 2009, when the Sooners finished 10th at the Big 12 Championship, OU has won one national championship, three Big 12 titles and 39 overall team trophies as well as produced 26 All-America selections. Wednesday's victory marked Oklahoma's fourth of the season as the Sooners have now won 12 of their last 22 stroke-play events. 

"The journey has been an amazing ride and the future is so bright," Hybl added. "When I think about all the people that have chipped in – from our Chip in Club, our former players, our coaching staffs throughout the years – it's been really special. We've got a lot of opportunity to grow moving forward, but at the end of the day it still comes down to the fact that our guys work, and they want it. They're not scared of the work and that's why they're champions."

With the victory, Oklahoma has officially clinched its 12th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance as the Big 12's automatic qualifier. The Sooners will host a regional at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, May 15-17, and the top-five teams will advance to the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ.