Sooners Charge Into Second at Big 12 Championship

TRINITY, Texas — Oklahoma fired an 8-under 280 on Monday at Whispering Pines Golf Club to move into solo second place in the penultimate round of the 2024 Big 12 Championship.

The Sooners (2, -2) posted the second-lowest round of the day at the 72-hole championship, moving up three spots on the leaderboard. True freshman Ryder Cowan carded a bogey-free 67 (-5) to move into the top 10 of the individual race. Oklahoma will enter Wednesday's final round 11 shots behind Texas, who went from even-par to 13-under on Tuesday.

"Overall, it was a really good day for us," head coach Ryan Hybl said after the round. "To have three guys get under-par at Whispering Pines is big time and a testament to the work those guys have put in all year. Most importantly, we've given ourselves a chance to do something special tomorrow, but we know we've got to come out ready if we want to do that."

Oklahoma was in fifth place entering the day after signing for a 296 (+8) and 286 (-2) at the par-72 track on Monday. Jase Summy got things off to a good start for the Crimson and Cream in the third round Tuesday, posting birdies on four of his first six holes to push the Sooners closer to even-par. It was a birdie from Drew Goodman on the ninth hole that pushed OU into the red for the first time at the championship as OU played the front nine 7-under par. As BYU, who led after 36 holes, fell down the standings, OU climbed the leaderboard while Cowan found birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 13 to send the Sooners into second place. A tough final two holes pushed Oklahoma from 5-under on the day to 2-under, which was good enough for second place as Oklahoma State (3, -1) stumbled down the stretch.

Cowan (8, -3), a freshman from Edmond, Okla., saved his best round of the season for the biggest moment. The Sooner tallied five birdies and no bogeys en route to a career-low 67 (-5) to move into solo eighth place heading into the final round.

Jase Summy (T11, -1) joined Cowan in the red, signing for a 69 (-3) to grab a share of 11th. Following Wednesday's final round, all players inside the top 10 will be named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.

Junior Drew Goodman (T15, E) shot a 70 (-2) to move up the leaderboard to 15th. He was nearly perfect on the day, carding four birdies, including three on the front before a double-bogey on the 16th stunted his rise.

Stephen Campbell Jr. (T30, +4) was 1-under par heading to the 17th, but the senior found trouble on the 625-yard par-5 track and then on the par-4 18th to post a 74 (+2) on the afternoon.

Ben Lorenz (T55, +12) finished the day with a 5-over 77 and is tied for 55th.

Cincinnati's Ty Gingerich is the clubhouse leader at 8-under after 54 holes, leading Oklahoma State's Preston Stout by two strokes. Only 14 golfers, including two Sooners, are under par at the championship.

The Sooners tee off on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. CT with leaders Texas (1, -13) and Oklahoma State (3, -1) in the final round. The final 18 holes of the championship will be streamed on ESPN+, and live scoring will be available on Golfstat.

Oklahoma is the defending, back-to-back Big 12 champion. It erased a late deficit to knock off Texas at Whispering Pines and win the 2022 Big 12 title and ran away with the 2023 crown at Prairie Dunes Country Club. The 2024 championship is Oklahoma's last as a member of the Big 12 Conference as OU moves to the Southeastern Conference on July 1.

After Wednesday's final round concludes, the team champion will receive the league's automatic selection into the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship. If not selected on a participating team, the conference's medalist will receive an automatic invitation to NCAA Regionals. The top-10 finishers, including ties, will be named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.

The full NCAA field, including selections and regional site locations, will be announced on Wednesday, May 1 at 1 p.m. CT on Golf Channel.

LEADERBOARD TOP FIVE

1. Texas ( -13)
2. Oklahoma (-2)
3. Oklahoma State (-1)
4. Houston (+3)
5. West Virginia (+4)