The last week of February was a light schedule as far as college golf goes, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t stellar performances from teams on the course.
There was a team who has dominated in the desert doing some of the same in Las Vegas, while at the same event, another player punched his ticket to a PGA Tour event in his home state. Meanwhile, the Kansas women set not one, not two but three records in Arizona in its first victory in six years.
And there’s also a new No. 1 in the PGA Tour University rankings.
We’re one week closer to conference championships, which means every round matters that much more.
MORE: College golf practice facilities
Here’s what you need to know from the last week of college golf.
OU wins Southern Highlands... again
OU men’s golf won the 2024 Southern Highlands Collegiate. (Photo: OU Athletics)
The Oklahoma Sooners like playing the Southern Highlands Collegiate.
OU won in 2019 and again in 2022. And for the third time in the six-year span, the Sooners left Las Vegas with another title.
OU finished at 8 under, beating then-No. 2 Auburn by three shots (Auburn moved to No. 1 in the latest rankings update). Jase Summy had a stellar final round, shooting 6-under 66 to move into solo second and pushing OU to victory.
Junior Drew Goodman finished T-6 at 4 under while freshman Ryder Cowan placed T-21 at 2 over.
It was the second victory of the season for the Sooners, which also knocked off No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 Arizona State, among others.
Florida junior Ian Gilligan, who beat cancer when he was 15, won the individual title at 8 under, and he earned an exemption to the Shriners Children’s Open, a PGA Tour event in Las Vegas in October. Even better, Nevada is Gilligan’s home state, and it’ll be his first Tour start.
Kansas breaks three school records at Westbrook
Kansas women’s golf won the 2024 Westbrook Invitational. (Photo: KU Athletics)
The Kansas Women’s Golf team posted a 54-hole score of 43 under to capture the Westbrook Invitational at Westbrook Village Golf Club in Arizona, setting three program records in the first title in six years.
Kansas shot a team score of 43-under 821, setting a new program 54-hole record. Jordan Rothman led the way for the Jayhawks, finishing T-2 at 13-under 203. Rothman’s 54-hole score of 203 is a new individual program record, a feat she set earlier this season with an 11-under 205 in her win at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate.
Additionally, Lauren Clark finished T-6 at 11 under. Her 54-hole score is a new personal best, notching her third top-10 finish at Kansas.
Kansas beat Oklahoma by six shots to win, but the Sooners third-round score of 273 was the fourth-lowest total in program history.
SMU takes Chevron, Maryland sets records
SMU women’s golf won the 2024 Chevron Collegiate. (Photo: SMU Athletics)
The SMU women’s golf team captured the 2024 Chevron Collegiate in Humble, Texas, finishing at 33 under, the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
The Mustangs came into the day in a tie for the lead after putting up a 36-hole record of 23 under on the first day of play. Maryland placed second at 29 under par.
The win marked the Mustangs second of the season after a victory in the fall at the Jim West Challenge. The Mustangs have won eight tournaments over the last two seasons led by coach Lauren Mason.
Texas A&M placed third at 24 under. Maryland sophomore Nicha Kanpai won her first individual title, tying with Illinois’ Isabel Sy with a score of 204. Kanpai’s second-round score of 66 and 54-hole score of 204 were both career-bests. Her score of 204 also set a program record.
First individual title and a school record for Nicha Kanpai!‼️🐢#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/QwitLkEJQd
— Maryland Women's Golf (@TerpsWGolf) February 28, 2024
The Terrapins also set a program record for lowest 54-hole score at 835.
NCAA updates postseason selection criteria
North Carolina golfer David Ford plays his third shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic)
A major change is coming to how the NCAA selects college golf teams for postseason competition.
The NCAA’s Competition Oversight Committee updated the men’s and women’s golf postseason selection criteria for 2023-24. The COC approved a recommendation to consider any available longstanding college golf rankings as a resource in preparation for and throughout championship selections.
For more on the changes, click here.
New No. 1 in PGA Tour U
Christo Lamprecht plays on the fourth hole during the second round of the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
There’s a new No. 1 in the PGA Tour University rankings for 2024, and he towers over most his competition.
College golf facilities: Virginia Cavaliers and Dean Family Golf Performance Center
Virginia’s Dean Family Golf Performance Center. (Photo: Virginia Athletics)
Our latest look at a college golf facility examines the Dean Family Golf Performance Center, home of the Virginia men’s and women’s golf teams.
