HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With two golfers at or near the top of the leaderboard through three rounds, the University of Colorado men’s golf team threatened to crash the Big 12 championship.
But Oklahoma State’s Morgan Hoffman fired a 66 in the final round on Wednesday to take medalist honors and lead the Cowboys to their third consecutive team title. Colorado finished second in the team standings for the first time since Steve Jones led the 1981 team to a runner-up finish.
Hoffman’s 4-under-par 66 was the lowest round of the 72-hole tournament on the historic Prairie Dunes Country Club layout. The Cowboys finished plus-29 for the tournament, 14 strokes ahead of Colorado.
Hoffman’s 72-hole score was 4-under 276. He is the second straight OSU freshman to take the individual title, following Rickie Fowler, who finished fifth this year at 286.
Bill Alcorn of Baylor was runner-up, three strokes behind Hoffman. Kansas State’s Robert Streb placed third at even-par 280, and Texas A&M’s Bronson Burgoon was fourth at 282.
CU’s Patrick Grady finished sixth at 287, followed by teammate Derek Tolan, who shared the overall lead after two rounds.
Oklahoma State’s 14-stroke margin of victory is the second-largest, trailing only the 20-stroke margin of last year.
Texas A&M was third at plus-47. Kansas State was at plus-50 for fourth, tying its best team finish. Rounding out the top five was Baylor at plus-54.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
AT PRAIRIE DUNES COUNTRY CLUB
Hutchinson, Kan.
6,701 yard, par 70—280
FINAL ROUND
Team scores (par 1,120) — Oklahoma State 1,149; Colorado 1,163; Texas A&M 1,167; Kansas State 1,170; Baylor 1,174; Texas Tech 1,188; Kansas 1,191; Texas 1,194; Missouri 1,204; Oklahoma 1,205; Nebraska 1,206; Iowa State 1,210.
Top individuals
Morgan Hoffman, Okla. St. 71-71-68-66—276
Bill Allcorn, Baylor 68-71-70-70—279
Robert Streb, Kansas St. 69-75-67-69—281
Bronson Burgoon, Texas A&M 72-68-72-70—282
Rickie Fowler, Okla. St. 74-71-70-75—286
Also:
6. Patrick Grady, Colorado 71-71-70-75—287
7. Derek Tolan, Colorado 71-68-74-75—288
12. Kevin Kring, Colorado 78-71-77-70—296
34. Johnny Widmer, Colorado 78-81-73-72—304
43. Luke Symons, Colorado 85-73-73-76—307
