Completed Event: Men's Golf versus Puerto Rico Classic on February 9, 2026 , , 5th/15 - 831 (-33)
Final
Men's Golf
vs Puerto Rico Classic
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Welch Goes Low, Sooners Hold 54-Hole Lead at NCAAs
May 29, 2022 | Men's Golf
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Powered by Patrick Welch's bogey-free 63 (-7) on Sunday, the top-ranked Oklahoma men's golf team claimed the 54-hole lead at the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Sooners will enter Monday's final round of stroke-play qualifying with a four-shot buffer between them and rival No. 2 Oklahoma State (2nd, +3). When it tees off on Monday, Oklahoma will be 30 strokes in front of the match-play cut to eight teams, which occurs after the final round. As a result, head coach Ryan Hybl's squad is in line to extend its nation-leading streak of consecutive NCAA match-play appearances to six.
"When you look back at what we did today, you're going to see a nice team round," Hybl said. "We were led by Patrick Welch's 7-under par 63. I was pretty much with him all day long and it was a fantastic round of golf leading the way. Chris (Gotterup) had another nice round which is great for us. Stephen Campbell, we threw him in there, and he gave us a nice 2-over par round. So all in all, not a bad day at the office."
Welch led the way with a 63 (-7) and is one of four players under par at the par-70 course. He sits alone in fourth place, just three back of the lead. Redshirt senior Chris Gotterup fired a 68 (-2) to reach 3-under par for the week, and he'll enter Monday's final round one shot behind Vanderbilt's Gordon Sargent (-4), who leads the championship. Logan McAllister and Drew Goodman currently share 22nd at 4-over par. Stephen Campbell Jr., who was subbed in for Ben Lorenz on Sunday, carded a 72 (+2) but is not eligible to appear on the leaderboard.
If Welch or Gotterup find a way to win the individual championship, they would become Oklahoma's first NCAA title winner since Jim Vickers won at Purdue Golf Club 70 years ago in 1952.
"We've had two great champions at OU in Walter Emery and the great Jimmy Vickers," Hybl added. "To have another Oklahoma guy potentially be able to hoist that national championship trophy as an individual would be truly special. It's a hard one to get your hands on."
The NCAA championship is contested over 72 holes of stroke play, with the field being cut from 30 to 15 teams after 54 holes. Following 72 cumulative holes, the field will be narrowed down to eight teams who will square off in a quarterfinal, semifinal and final match to determine a national champion.
Oklahoma will tee off in the final group with the Cowboys and Commodores at 1:50 p.m. CT. Golf Channel will carry live coverage of the round beginning at 4 p.m. CT.
For more information on Oklahoma men's golf, follow the Sooners on Twitter (@OU_MGolf) or like Oklahoma Men's Golf on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Monday, May 26
Friday, May 26
Wednesday, May 17
Tuesday, May 16
