Welch Makes PGA Tour U Debut at No. 9

NORMAN – In June, Oklahoma men's golfer Patrick Welch announced he would return to Norman for a fifth season. Today, Welch debuted at No. 9 in the 2022-23 PGA Tour U Velocity Global Ranking, it was announced by the PGA Wednesday.

In partnership with the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), PGA Tour U ranks the nation's top senior golfers and provides a pathway to the pros. At the end of each season, the top-five finishers earn membership on the Korn Ferry Tour and players that finish No. 6 thru No. 15 receive membership on PGA Tour Canada or PGA Tour Latinoamérica.

Since the inaugural PGA Tour U class in the 2020-21 season, Oklahoma has led the nation with five graduates, including two in the top five each year. Garett Reband (No. 5), Quade Cummins (No. 6) and Jonathan Brightwell (No. 10) accounted for one-third of qualifying graduates, followed by Logan McAllister (No. 3) and Chris Gotterup (No. 7) in the 2022 season. Welch is the only Sooner in the top 25 of the 2023 debut ranking.

A two-time All-American, Welch owns a career scoring average of 71.60 (+0.18), suitable for fourth all-time for a Sooner. His name is littered throughout the Oklahoma record book, sitting inside the school's top 10 in career wins (2), par-or-better rounds (67) and birdies (376). His first collegiate win came in the fall of 2020 when he posted a 67 to win the prestigious East Lake Cup. He earned his second win at the highly competitive Southern Highlands Collegiate in the spring of 2022. A product of Aliso Viejo, Calif., Welch has 11 top-10 finishes and grabbed All-Tournament honors at the Big 12 Championship last season.

Welch and the Sooners will open their quest for a third national championship this fall. The team's 2022-23 schedule will be released at a later date.

Players Mentioned

Quade Cummins

Chris Gøtterup

Logan McAllister

Garett Reband

Patrick Welch

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics