LAWRENCE, Kan. – Oklahoma City University topped a field that included 14 NCAA Division I teams in the Kansas Invitational on Tuesday at Alvamar Golf Course.
The Stars, ranked No. 1 in NAIA men's golf according to Golf World, fired a 292-289-284–865 to finish 11 strokes ahead of Nebraska and take the Kansas Invitational for the first time ever. Sondre Ronold, a sophomore from Stavanger, Norway, spearheaded OCU with a career-best runner-up finish individually.
Ronold shot 69-74-71–214 for his lowest career 54-hole total at OCU. Gustaf Kocken of Louisiana-Monroe won the tournament by two strokes.
Kyle Blaser has led OCU to national championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and last year. OCU has now captured 71 tournament wins under Blaser, who began his 14th season as OCU coach.
“It was one of the best performances that I've seen from an OCU golf team,” Blaser said. “We really played well. We have a chance to be a really good team.”
The Stars' Clark Collier tied for sixth place with a 71-71-74–216, while Michael Palmer chipped in a 76-73-68–217 to finish knotted for eighth.
Competitors played the par-72, 7,092-yard layout with a temperature of 87 degrees with a 10 mph wind.
The Stars host the 39th annual U.C. Ferguson Classic on Monday and Tuesday at Lincoln Park Golf Course.
Results
