INDEPENDENCE, Minn. (Sept. 9, 2018) – It was a long Sunday in Minnesota, but at the end of it, Oklahoma remained in position to back up its season-opening Carmel Cup victory with a Gopher Invitational victory. The Sooners are tied atop the leaderboard with Texas after 36 holes at the par-71 Windsong Farm Golf Club.

Oklahoma put together consistent rounds of even-par 284 and 1-over 285 to finish the day at 1 over. Texas, meanwhile, was much more polar. The Longhorns were 7 over in their opening 291, then rebounded with a 6-under 278. As a team, the Longhorns made 15 birdies on the back nine of the second round.

Behind the Big 12 leaders, the Big 10 is well represented. Iowa is third at 6 over and Purdue and Michigan State are tied for fourth at 8 over.

Texas is competing for the first time this season and is without incoming power freshman Cole Hammer as he returns from the World Amateur Team Championship in Ireland. Senior Steven Chervony led the team with rounds of 73-68 and is five shots off the lead in a tie for seventh. Freshman Pierceson Coody is also within the top 10 after rounds of 72-70.

As for Oklahoma, the Sooners are trying to capitalize on momentum from last week’s two-shot victory at Pebble Beach for the Carmel Cup. They went 46 under in the play-six-count-five format. On Sunday in Minnesota, senior Blaine Hale paced the team with a 36-hole 5-under 137 that included 13 birdies, the most of any player in the tournament.

William Buhl, an Arkansas junior, was the only other player to put together two rounds in the 60s on Sunday. His 69-67 left him 6 under, and with a one-shot edge on Hale for the individual lead.

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