Future Cowboy Golfer Matthew Wolff Comes up Short at U.S. Junior Amateur

It was a busy week for the Oklahoma State golf program, as both current and future players made their marks around the country at various amateur tournaments. That includes one current Cowboy and two current Cowgirls who took home hardware.

U.S. Junior Amateur

Matthew Wolff: Future Cowboy Matthew Wolff came just one hole away from being the first Poke to take the U.S. Junior Amateur trophy home, losing 1-up to SMU commit Noah Goodwin.

Wolff played well for most of the day’s 36 holes, holding a 4-up lead after 28. Then it went downhill, with Goodwin winning four of the next five holes. They both made pars on Nos. 34 and 35. But on the final hole, Wolff conceded Goodwin’s 6-foot birdie put. Wolff was facing a putt for double-bogey after hitting a drive left into a water a hazard.

“I hit it long on the finishing hole (into the water), probably because of the adrenaline,“ Wolff told reporters. “It’s been incredible, played real solid all week. Just a great learning experience for me in the future. I knew about the big names that won this event, but I didn’t think about it much. Just stayed in the moment.”

Wolff, who is from just outside of Los Angeles, will play the U.S. Am in Augusta at Riviera Country Club. “I’m super pumped to play in the U.S. Amateur,” he said.

He’ll come to Stillwater this fall.

“I had the feeling (that I wanted to go there) as soon as I stepped on campus,” Wolff told Golfweek after previously committing to USC. “… I just didn’t see a school that could top it.”

Austin Eckroat: If not for meeting Wolff in the quarterfinals, Edmond North’s Eckroat might also have been competing on championship day. The fellow future Cowboy entered match play as the top seed after two bogey-free rounds of 66 in stroke play.

Eckroat then marched through the first three rounds of match play, never needing more than 15 holes to knock off his opponent. He finished his three rounds 5 and 3, 7 and 5, and 5 and 4.

Alas, he met his soon-to-be teammate Wolff in the quarterfinals. The two went back and forth and headed into 18 even. Wolff was able to win the hole and, as we know, advance to the final. Both golfers should be welcome additions to the team over the coming years.

Recapping the top moments from Thursday at the 70th #USJuniorAm. pic.twitter.com/Ve9qleTKKN

— USGA (@USGA) July 21, 2017

Oklahoma State Amateur

Brendon Jelley: For the third time in four years, Oklahoma State senior Brendon Jelley took home the OGA State Am trophy on Wednesday. He defeated Oral Roberts junior Cody Burrows 4 and 3 in the championship round. Jelley also took the trophy in 2014 and 2015.

Women’s Oklahoma State Amateur

Alexis Sadegh: Cowgirl senior Alexis Sadeghy took home the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Championship trophy on Thursday after beating Oklahoma’s Sydney Youngblood in match-play.

Not only is this the second straight year Sadeghy has won the event, this trophy comes one month after she captured the state’s other amateur title, the WOGA Stroke Play Championship.

“The level of competition at these events was outstanding, and it really forced me to play my best golf,” said Sadeghy after her victory.

Women’s Texas State Amateur

Maddie Mccrary: Not only does an OSU player now hold the men’s and women’s state amateur trophies in Oklahoma, one has has earned the title in Texas as well. Cowgirl senior Maddie McCrary won the Women’s Texas Golf Association State Amateur Championship on Thursday over the University of Houston’s Allie Anderson.

McCrary sank a 12-foot putt on the 17th hole to go up 2-and-1 to win.

“It just really felt like my day,” McCrary said following the victory. “This tournament is really challenging. It’s a real mental grind against some great golfers, and I’m so happy that it all came together for me.”