Oklahoma's late birdie run nets Gopher Invitational title

INDEPENDENCE, Minn. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Oklahoma remains undefeated to start the season after logging a second victory in as many weeks at the Gopher Invitational on Monday. The Sooners were 5 under for 54 holes at Windsong Farm Golf Club to clip Texas by three shots, but the team had to work for it.

Oklahoma entered the final round tied with Texas for the lead with Iowa five off the pace. At the turn on Monday, however, the Sooners trailed Iowa by six strokes. Oklahoma authored a critical comeback down the stretch as the five-man lineup carded 16 birdies on the back nine. They played the final nine holes in 11 under to secure the win.

The Sooners posted a final-round 6-under 278 to earn their third Gopher Invitational title in the past four years. Oklahoma has now won six of its last eight tournaments, dating to last season.

Oklahoma’s 54-hole total of 5-under 847 also set a tournament record.

“That was an unreal finish by our team,” head coach Ryan Hybl said. “That will go down in the record book as one of the greatest team finishes in school history.”

After Texas in second place, Iowa finished in third at 1-under 851. Arkansas was fourth while host Minnesota and Purdue shared fifth.

Oklahoma Senior Blaine Hale shared medalist honors with Arkansas’ William Buhl at 7-under 206 for his first individual title of his college career. Hale was the only player in the tournament to post three rounds in the 60s and used a birdie on hole No. 18 to split the individual title with Buhl. The senior logged a 2-under 69 during Monday’s final round and closed the day with birdies on five of the final six holes.

As for Buhl, his share of medalist honors came on the strength of a second-round 67. It was also his first career victory.

Information from Oklahoma Athletics used in this report