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Ping/Golfweek Preview: Hoffman leads Oklahoma State to victory
30 Sep 2008
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Victorious in first start (OSU photo)
Victorious in first start (OSU photo)

TOLEDO, Ohio (Sept. 30, 2008) — After carding a 284 in the final round of play at the Ping/Golfweek Preview, Oklahoma State men’s golf team earned its first title of the 2008-09 season, winning the event fourth time in the 20-year history of the event.

Competing at the Inverness Club, the Cowboys entered the third round with an eight-stroke cushion and nearly doubled their margin by the end of play. OSU’s even-par tally was good for a 9-under 843 total, giving them a 16-stroke victory over Tennessee.

The Cowboys also won the event in 1989, 1998 and 2004.

OSU was equally impressive on the individual leaderboard, producing three of the top four individuals and getting a memorable debut from a freshman.

Morgan Hoffmann capped his first career start with a 1-over 72 to tie Tennessee’s Robin Wingardh for medalist honors at 6-under 207. The Saddle Brook, N.J., native moved to the top spot on the leaderboard after firing a 66 during his second round and entered round three one shot clear of Wingardh.

For the third consecutive day, the 2008 U.S. Amateur quarterfinalist blistered the front nine, carding four birdies to make the turn at 2-under 35. During the event’s three rounds, he recorded 13 birdies on the outward nine.

Hoffmann began his back nine with seven consecutive pars to stand at 2-under with two holes remaining before a bogey-double bogey finish to slip into a tie for the top spot.

Wingardh, a Volunteer sophomore, followed up his 4-under-par 67 by scoring par or better on 15 of 18 holes to finish at even par on Tuesday, including three straight birdies on the front nine from Nos. 6 to 8.

The individual title is Wingardh's first of his career, improving on his previous-best performance, a tie for fifth place at the Turtle Bay Intercollegiate in Nov. 2007.

Oklahoma senior Trent Leon carded the squad’s low round of the day, firing a 5-under 66 to claim sole possession of third place at 4-under 209 and earn his second consecutive top-10 finish.

The Dallas, Texas native put together a bogey-free front nine that included three birdies and got to 5-under for the day with birdies at the 11th and 12th holes. Leon recovered from back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 with birdies on two of his final three holes to match his career-low score.

Sophomore Rickie Fowler posted his second consecutive top five, finishing alone in fourth place at 210. The Murrieta, Calif., native carded a 73 during his final round and has now finished in the top 10 in 12 of his 14 career starts.

Sophomore Kevin Tway carded a 73 during his final round to move into a tie for 31st place at 221.

Junior Trent Whitekiller rounded out the lineup with a 224 total after a final round of 78 tied him for 42nd place.

--Various athletic department reports used in this article

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