William McDonald (Oklahoma G.A. photo)
The 111th Oklahoma State Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club came down to the second to last hole in the final match, with Cincinnati's William McDonald of Oklahoma City, Okla., taking home the trophy behind a three-putt from Ryder Cowan of Edmond, Okla.
Cowan needed a birdie on the drivable No. 17 to even up the championship match with McDonald. Cowan drove just left of the green and pitched to inside 10 feet but his putt raced past four feet and Cowan missed the comeback putt.
McDonald, who had driven into a greenside bunker but then left his first attempt in the bunker, pitched out and converted the par to etch his name into state championship history.
“I kind of hated to win it that way with Ryder three-putting, but it was a great match,” McDonald told Ken Macleod of the Tulsa World.
“I drove it awesome this morning and in most of my match with Ryder,” McDonald told Macleod. “That makes it so much easier to make pars out here. Also you’re not going to be able to avoid 8-footers for par out here and I was able to make a lot of those, so real happy about that.”
McDonald has two years of eligibility left at the University of Cincinnati and is coached by former University of Oklahoma All-American Doug Martin.
“I’ve been playing in OJGT events since I was 13," McDonald told Macleod. "This is the biggest tournament in the state and this is the best golf course in the state. So it’s really just a dream come true for me to win it here.”
McDonald played the same steady golf in the championship match that had benefitted him in his 3 and 2 semifinal victory over defending champion Ian Davis of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Cowan defeated Mesa Falleur of Muskogee, Okla. 1-up in the second semifinal matchup to create the McDonald and Cowan final match.
ABOUT THE Oklahoma State Amateur
Open to Oklahoma residents with handicap index
of
7.0 or less who have completed qualifying or are
exempt. 18 holes of stroke play determines a
round
of
64 match play bracket.
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