CARROLLTON, Texas –
Ryder Cowan continued his strong spring stretch with his second consecutive top-three finish, leading Oklahoma men's golf to a fifth-place showing at the Maridoe Collegiate on Tuesday.
One week after tying for medalist honors at the Valspar Collegiate, Cowan carded rounds of 68-76-72 at the par-72 Maridoe Golf Club to finish third at even par. The junior, who was runner-up at the event a year ago, remained in contention throughout the week and finished just one shot back of co-medalists Ethan Fang and Preston Stout.
The 15th-ranked Sooners opened the 54-hole event in third place after Monday's morning round but battled difficult, windy conditions throughout the day. Oklahoma posted a final-round 304 (+16) to secure fifth place at +40 in the 12-team field.
Cowan (3, E) set the tone early with a 4-under 68 in the opening round before staying within striking distance after a 76 in round two. In Tuesday's final round, the nation's No. 12-ranked player opened with seven straight pars and surged into the lead with a pair of birdies midway through the round. Late bogeys ultimately dropped him back into third as he finished just off the pace.
Jase Summy, last year's Maridoe individual champion, joined Cowan inside the top 20 with rounds of 74-76-75 to tie for 19th at 9-over.
Freshman
Coltrane Mittag recorded the best finish of his OU career, tying for 29th at 15-over.
Clark Van Gaalen (T36, +16),
Cameron Cheek (T64, +25) and
Matthew Troutman (T67, +26) rounded out the lineup.
Powered by its co-medalists, No. 7 Oklahoma State captured the team title by 18 strokes. Arizona State finished second, followed by Baylor, North Texas and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma closes the regular season April 12-13 at the Ford Collegiate at The Ford Field & River Club in Richmond Hill, Ga. Postseason play begins April 22 at the SEC Championship at Sea Island Golf Club on Saint Simons Island, Ga.