Hybl Signs Three of Nation's Best on Signing Day

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma head men's golf coach Ryan Hybl announced the signing of three student-athletes on day one of the early signing day period.

The three-man class consists of three of the nation's top players as Oklahoma will welcome Ryder Cowan, Connor Henry and PJ Maybank III to Norman next summer.

"All three of these guys are exactly the type of player we look for here at Oklahoma," Hybl said. "They're the perfect combination of elite talent, high golf IQ and grit. They're excited to be Sooners and know that they'll fit in perfectly with what we've built here. Overall, we're just really happy to add them and their families to our OU golf family."

Cowan, graded as the top player in the state of Oklahoma, continues a long line of players in the Sooner State choosing OU. The Edmond, Okla., product is ranked No. 25 in the Rolex AJGA Ranking and is rated as the No. 15 player in the 2023 class by Golfweek. A two-time 2022 Rolex Junior All-America honorable mention, Cowan has amassed two AJGA wins, three AJGA top-10 finishes and was the 2022 OSSAA 3A Boys State Champion.

"Any time we get a chance to get the best player out of our state, it obviously gets us pretty excited," Hybl said. "We've been on Ryder for a couple of years now, and really love where his game is at now. We're even more excited about where his game can go with his development moving forward. His expectations for himself and our team are very, very high, and we know he'll make a big impact on our golf program. Ryder is just so talented. He's a really good ball striker, good hands around the green and really has a complete game."

Henry makes his way to Norman by way of Fort Worth, Texas, and is one of the top players from the Lone Star State. Winner of the 2022 Texas Cup Invitational and 2022 Bluebonnet Invitational, Henry also ran away with the Southwest Preparatory Conference Texas State championship with a tournament record score of 131 (-9) to win by 10 strokes. Henry is a two-time Texas State SPC first-team selection and is the only multiple-time winner on the Texas Legends Junior Tour. The son of Lee and JJ, Henry's father JJ is a three-time PGA TOUR winner and a past USA Ryder Cup Team Member.

"Connor has big time potential and is crazy talented," Hybl added. "He's shown that he can complete at the highest level. We can't wait to be part of his continued development. He has the pedigree, with his dad being a Ryder Cup member, there is no doubt that Connor has that same ability. We're pumped that he chose to be a Sooner and I'm excited to see where his game can go."

Maybank III, the top-ranked player in the Sooners' class, comes to Norman as the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2023 class and is the top golfer from the state of Michigan. Maybank III is a second-team Rolex AJGA Junior All-American with 12 AJGA top-10 finishes, including wins at the 2021 Coca-Cola Junior Championship and the 2021 Randy Wise Junior Open. A member of the 2022 Junior Presidents Cup and Wyndham Cup teams, Maybank III was a 2021 USGA qualifier and a two-time Michigan Junior Match Play and Stroke Play Champion. In addition, the Cheboygan, Mich., product set the Michigan scoring record to win the Michigan state championship en route to first-team All-State honors. Maybank is a three-time Drive, Chip and Putt National Championship qualifier and won the event in 2018, joining current Sooner Patrick Welch as a DCP winner.

"PJ is a big time player," Hybl said. "He's shown that time and time again at the best tournaments in the country. Super elite ball striker who is incredibly smart about the game. He is definitely a grinder that understands different conditions because he's played in it all. He absolutely fits who we are and what this program is about. We cannot wait to get him to Norman because with his skill level and ability to win, we know he'll be ready to immediately make an impact here in Norman."

The three signees will be added to a Sooners' roster that signed three top-55 golfers in last year's class and a pair of top-50 players the year before. Oklahoma wrapped up its 2022 fall schedule with a win at the Ka'anapali Classic and opens its spring at the Puerto Rico Classic in February.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Hybl Signs Three of Nation's Best on Signing Day

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