Host Oregon, even though individual national champion Aaron Wise lost his match, defeated top-ranked Texas, 3-2, to capture its first NCAA Championship at Eugene Golf Club in Eugene, Ore.
The Ducks became the first host school to win the national title since Oklahoma claimed the crown in 1989 at Oak Tree Country Club in Edmond, Okla.
Edwin Yi of Oregon beat Gavin Hall, 4 and 3, to pull Oregon even at 2-2 and Sulman Raza (pictured after winning putt) gave the Ducks their winning point by rallying to defeat Taylor Funk with a seven-foot birdie putt on the 21st hole.
“I just felt like everything was on my shoulders and I handled it great,” said Raza, a junior from Eugene. “It’s the best feeling I ever felt in my life.”
Texas standout Beau Hossler, a junior from Mission Viejo, was forced to concede his match to Zach Foushee before hitting a shot because of a left shoulder injury he sustained while leading the Longhorns past USC in the semifinals.
Scottie Sheffler of Texas knocked off Wise, a sophomore from Lake Elsinore, 4 and 3, and Doug Ghim gave the Longhorns their other victory with a 2-and-1 victory over Thomas Lim.
“It was just so much fun to do this here, with all the support that we got this week,” said Coach Casey Martin of Oregon, a native of Eugene who played on Stanford’s 1994 NCAA championship team with Tiger Woods.
“It’s a special group and it’s just so awesome to bring it to Oregon. This is a track school, a football school, a basketball school. Now it’s a golf school, too.”
Funk, son of PGA Tour Champions star Fred Funk, took a 1-up lead over Raza with a seven-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole, but Raza pulled even with a par on the 17th before they went to extra holes after pars at No. 18.
