Matt Wolff, who was the Ventura County Star Boys Golfer of the Year last season, scored the winning point as Oklahoma State claimed its 11th NCAA Championship.
Wolff (pictured), a freshman from Agoura Hills and Westlake High, sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole to defeat Davis Riley of Alabama, 4 and 3, as the top-ranked Cowboys routed the Crimson Tide, 5-0, at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.
“We had one goal this season, to win the national championship, from the time I arrived on campus,” said Wolff, who helped Westlake win California State High School titles in 2014 and 2015, and finish second in 2016. “To make that last putt, it couldn’t have worked out any better.
“Our fans were unbelievable, lifting me to my highest highs and pulling me out of my lowest lows. We couldn’t have done it without them. This was a total team effort and I couldn’t ask for any better teammates.”
Oklahoma State, which last won the NCAA title in 2006, got off to a quick start and never let up, with Viktor Hovland beating Lee Hodges, 4 and 3; Kristoffer Ventura defeating Wilson Furr, 3 and 2; Austin Eckroat edging Davis Shore, 1 up, and Zach Bauchou trouncing Jonathan Hardee, 8 and 7.
Oklahoma State got to the final by defeating Texas A&M in the quarterfinals, 3-1-1, and slipping past Auburn in the semifinals, 3-2.
“I have never seen an atmosphere like this,” head coach Alan Bratton said of the home-course victory. “I am so proud again for our Oklahoma State family and Cowboy golf. This is bigger than just Cowboy golf. Our fans, they turn out. They did that in a big way.
“I’m glad the world got to see it, and I’m glad these guys got to live it. It is certainly not about me, it is about all of those players and all of the former players we had. I can’t tell you how many former players we had in the crowd this week. All of us were standing on their shoulders this week.”
Alabama, which claimed the NCAA title in 2013 and 2014, beat Texas Tech, 3-2, and routed Duke, 5-0, in the semis.
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