OSU rallies to win seventh straight Maxwell title

No matter what happens, no matter where things stand, Oklahoma State always finds a way to win the Perry Maxwell Intercollegiate in the end.

After trailing Michigan by three shots at the close of Saturday, the fifth-ranked Cowboys teamed up for a bundle of birdies and dropped bogeys, picking up 11 strokes for an 11-under 269 and a three-round total of 31-under, 809 (266-274-269), finishing three shots ahead of the Wolverines and win the Maxwell for the seventh straight year.

“They got low numbers on the back nine,” OSU coach Mike McGraw said of his players. “We got off to a rough start. We played No. 3 and No. 4 over par, and that put us behind the eight ball because we knew we were already trailing in the tournament. And we didn’t play No. 6 very well, and we were asking ourselves, ‘When are we going to get this thing going.’

“Then, finally, we made two birdies on No. 9 and played 10, 11 and 12 at 1-under and played 14 at 3-under. So, we got on a roll on the back nine and played very well.”

The win will once again serve as a momentum builder going into the regional tournament next week.

“That’s why I Iike this tournament so much,” McGraw said. “It is a great opportunity to get the guys together as we head toward the postseason. It’s fun, too, because it is like five guys at home playing at their own golf course. They pulled together and played well, and I’m really proud of them.”

The day-one leading Wolverines had their fair share of 1-under pars on the day. They shot 5-under, 275 on the day to finish with 28-under, 812 (270-267-275) in the first Maxwell competition.

Michigan can still sing “Hail to the Victors” for an individual win. Bill Rankin captured the individual championship with an 8-under, 202, after carding a 69 in the last 18 holes.

“It is tremendous,” Rankins said in regards to winning The Maxwell in his school’s first visit. “It’s exciting for me because this my first college win. I finished first in a one-round tournament earlier this year, but it is not the same at all. This is a quality field. You have the best players in the country here, so it was really exciting for me. I look forward to carrying this through the regionals.”

“I didn’t have much momentum to start. It was a rough start. I really wasn’t thinking much about where I was playing individually because as long as I am somewhere around even par, I’m going to have some chances. Even before I made a birdie and an eagle on holes five and six, which really changed the momentum for me, I just started swinging a lot better, and I got a lot of good looks as I toned in on the back side.”

At one time, Michigan trailed OSU by 10, but made up some strokes that included birdies on the last three holes by Rankin. It just wasn’t enough to catch up with the Cowboys.

Rankin discussed his birdie on one of the “cliff-holes,” the 17th where you hit the ball down from the cliff onto the green outside the pond, when asked after the tournament.

“That’s a really tough hole down there to hit into the wind,” the Michigan golfer said. “I used my club to hit it 20 feet behind the hole. It was a really nice swing. I did a tricky little putt, but it got in line and it was going down great.”

“It’s fun to see him play this well,” Michigan coach Andrew Sapp said of Rankin. “He finished so well at the Big 10 (Tournament) a couple of weeks ago to finish third there. He came in here really hungry, and it was good to see him play that well. He got off to a miserable start (Sunday) as well, and he fought back in four of his last six holes to shoot 69. So, he really fought through adversity and finished strong.”

OSU’s Kevin Tway was runner-up in the individual race with 4-under, 206. The son of golfing legend Bob Tway parred the round with a 70.

At one point, Tway and Rankin were tied for the lead when Tway birdied the 14th hole. But he made a bogey down the stretch while Rankin picked up his birdies.

Oklahoma City University’s Anthony Michael was third with 3-under, 207. He shot a 70 for the day.

In the team standings, Wichita State, coached by another former OSU standout, Grier Jones, and ladened with Oklahomans Ryan Spears (Del City) and Ty Sanders (Jenks), took third with 21-under, 819 (271-273-275). OCU was fourth with 19-under, 821 (270-273-278). Tulsa placed seventh with 8-under, 832 (274-276-282) and Oklahoma was ninth with 9-over, 849 (282-278-289).

Nicolas Geyger, last year’s individual medalist, led Tulsa with a 211 (72-69-70). He tied for seventh. Liam Logan led OU with a 218 (72-72-74), tying for 27th.

Wichita State’s Spears finished tied for ninth with a 212 (72-69-71) and Sanders carded tied for 18th with a 215 (68-74-73).

The only other native Oklahoman on a non-state team was SMU’s Draegon Majors (Bixby), who played as an individual. Majors had the highest of golfers who played as individuals, tying for 18th with a 215 (74-71-70).

Maxwell Quick Hits

• With the alternatives scoring method in place for the fourth year, dozens of red numbers (under-par scores) were recorded on the team scoreboard.

• No records were broken as there had been in recent years.

• OU’s Jesse Schutte won the long drive competition Friday with a shot of 327 yards.
Mike Moguin, 221-6522
mike.moguin@ardmoreite.com