In a gripping showdown at La Costa in Carlsbad, Calif., the Oklahoma State Cowboys clinched their 12th NCAA men's golf title with a decisive 4-1 victory over Virginia on Wednesday. This marks the Cowboys' first national title in eight years.
Sophomore Eric Lee delivered the key performance, making a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th and chipping to within 5 feet on the par-5 18th to secure a conceded birdie, sealing his match against Virginia's Josh Duangmanee, 2 up. This victory echoed his clutch performance from the previous day, where he sank a 6-foot par on the 19th hole to help Oklahoma State past Mississippi in the semifinals.
The Cowboys advanced confidently through the tournament, defeating rival Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. Lee remarked, “It’s such a great feeling. I’ve gotten so close with these guys.”
On a cool, cloudy day with temperatures in the mid-60s, Oklahoma State also celebrated wins from Swedish freshman Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson, Gaven Lane, and Ethan Fang. Fahlberg-Johnsson kicked off the action with a 3-and-1 victory over Maxi Puregger, while Lane secured a 4-and-3 win against Paul Chang. With the championship sealed, Fang's match against Bryan Lee concluded on the 15th hole, with Fang leading by 1 up.
Ahead for Oklahoma State is the challenge to maintain their dominance. Coach Alan Bratton, who secured his second title in 12 seasons, stated, “Fortunately, we have all these guys back, and we’ll go to work on the next one starting tomorrow.”
On the Virginia side, Ben James, ranked No. 4 in the amateur world, claimed the sole win for the Cavaliers, defeating Preston Stout 3 and 2. Virginia's quest for their first team title remains unfulfilled, but the Cavaliers' performance underscored their potential for the future.
