OCU takes U.C. Ferguson Classic title

OCU Athletics
Rich Tortorelli

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University captured the U.C. Ferguson Classic in record-setting fashion Tuesday at Lincoln Park Golf Course.

Tres Hill paced the Stars by tying for the individual title. Oklahoma City boasted of the top team score in tournament history as well as the second-best 54-hole team score in program history. OCU, ranked seventh in the Golf Coaches Association of America NAIA men’s golf poll, topped a field including two top 25-rated teams.  

Oklahoma City produced the winning score of 274-268-273–815 on the par-71, 6,518-yard course. Bellevue (Neb.) previously shot a 279-273-267–819 in the U.C. Ferguson Classic on Sept. 17-18, 2012 at Lincoln Park. The Stars’ best 54-hole score of 273-263-275–811 came in the Battle at the Primm on March 19-20, 2018. 

The Stars posted the No. 3 36-hole team total (274-268–542) and fourth best team round (268) in program history. OCU won by 20 strokes over New Mexico Junior College for its 17th title and seventh crown in the past eight U.C. Ferguson Classic events. 

Hill, a freshman from Elk City, Okla., became the first OCU golfer to win in his collegiate debut since Jacques Blaauw took the Texas Intercollegiate on March 19-20, 2007 at Hawks Creek Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas. OCU’s Yasin Ali and Austin Morris shared the U.C. Ferguson All-College Classic individual crown Sept. 17, 2001 at Lincoln Park in their first college starts. 

Hill secured the victory with a birdie on No. 18, finishing with a 69-64-67–200. Mattis Lefevre from New Mexico JC grabbed the co-championship with Hill. Hill sank 13 birdies and two eagles during the tournament. Hill prepared for the college season by winning the Oklahoma Junior Masters and the Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Championship over the summer. 

Stars occupied three of the top four spots atop the individual leaderboard. OCU’s Dalton Daniel came in third with a 64-68-70–202. Daniel, a senior from Newcastle, Okla., knocked in 14 birdies and an eagle in 54 holes. 

Will Fore from the Stars turned in a 71-67-67–205, good for fourth place. Fore, a senior from Southlake, Texas, sank 13 birdies while notching his best finish with OCU. 

The Stars’ Dylan Teeter totaled a 70-69-72–211, which placed him 13th in his first college tournament. Teeter, a freshman from Bixby, Okla., made 10 birdies this week. Robbie Sager supplied OCU with a 74-74-69–217. Sager, a sophomore from Carthage, Mo., nailed nine birdies in the tournament including two in his final three holes Tuesday. 

Bosten Benn gave OCU four individuals among the top six while leading the OCU Black team. Benn, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., shot a 68-68-71–207 with 14 birdies.  

Oklahoma City’s Bo Robbins turned in a 71-74-72–217, while Jacob Wright carded a 71-77-73–221. Ben Thionnet compiled a 76-73-76–225, and Carson Breckenridge had an 80-81-81–242. OCU entered Caleb Allen (80-82-78–240) as an individual. 

The temperatures reached the mid-to-upper 90s with relatively calm winds during the tournament. Wind speeds topped out at 15-30 mph. 

The Stars return to the course in The Mid-South on Sept. 7-8 at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kan. 

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