The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Conference Championship
Men's Golf sweeps Big 12 Championship
04.24.2013 | Men's Golf
April 24, 2013
HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- The top-seeded Texas Men's Golf team fought off the Oklahoma State Cowboys over the final nine holes at Prairie Dunes Country Club late Wednesday afternoon to claim the 2013 Big 12 Men's Golf Championship. Freshman Brandon Stone (70-67-73=210, E) became Texas' fourth conference medalist and first in seven years as he finished the weather-shortened tournament three strokes ahead of the Cowboys' Talor Gooch (70-69-74=213).
Stone, a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist, joins the likes of Texas Exes David Gossett (1999), Jason Hartwick (2004) and Matt Rosenfeld (2006) as Big 12 individual champions.
The win marks the Longhorns' fourth overall Big 12 Championship title and first since 2004. Texas has previously won the conference tournament at Prairie Dunes in 2002 and 2004. In total, Texas has claimed 43 conference championships since 1927.
Men's Golf becomes the fifth University of Texas program to capture a Big 12 Conference championship during the 2012-13 athletics season, joining Volleyball, Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving and Men's Indoor Track and Field.
Seniors Julio Vegas and Cody Gribble paced UT to its third-straight win and fifth of the season with final-rounds of 71 and 72, respectively. Gribble (72-71-72=215) notched his third top five in his last four events with a tie for third place. Vegas - the Longhorns' low player for the day - tied for 14th place overall at 9-over 219 (77-71-71).
Sophomore Kramer Hickok (74-72-72=218) tied for ninth place in his Big 12 Championship debut, and junior Toni Hakula (74-72-83=229) rounded out the Texas squad tied for 33rd.
Stone, Gribble and Hickok earned Big 12 All-Tournament Team accolades for finishing among the top 10.
Next up, Texas will compete in one of six NCAA Regional Championship events from May 16-18 at a site to be announced Monday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Central on NCAA.com.
Post-tournament Quotes
Texas Head Coach John Fields
On Texas' Big 12 Championship victory: Anytime a golf tournament says 'championship,' it's a big deal. And the Big 12 Championship, for The University of Texas and our athletic department is a very big deal. We don't take it lightly. Maybe we've been guilty a couple of times of putting too much pressure on ourselves, but I thought the guys did a great job today and I'm thrilled for them and our program.
On the final-round performances by seniors Julio Vegas and Cody Gribble: They both came up big. Julio didn't have his best stuff this week, shot 77 in the first round, but then came back with rounds of 71 and was 142 the last two rounds and that is outstanding golf. Cody was just solid the whole way through. Likewise, he didn't have his best stuff, but they showed a lot of heart for us and that was the tale of the tape. You had to be patient out here, you had to give it your best and you had to be on the ball the whole time.
On sophomore Kramer Hickok's performance: I'm super excited for Kramer. He did a great job. He looked great out on the golf course all three rounds. He was in it the whole way and looked fantastic. For him as a sophomore, it's super exciting to get a team championship under his belt.
On freshman Brandon Stone: This is Brandon's third win. He's moving in on a lot of postseason honors, and you can't get too focused on those, you still have to go out and play the best golf you can. Prairie Dunes demands so much, and for Brandon to come out here and shoot even par on the first day is more than just outstanding - it's exceptional.
Freshman Brandon Stone
On his victory: It means more to me that the team won. It's been a tough week for the team, both with the golf and the weather. At the end of the week, having a Big 12 Championship and another ring in the cabinet is huge for both myself and the rest of the team. I really look forward to the rest of the postseason now.
Senior Cody Gribble
On Texas' first Big 12 Championship in nine years: It's probably going to sink in a little more over the next few days. This has been a huge goal of Julio's and mine, and to finally get it at Prairie Dunes and the way it all came down is nothing but the best.
Big 12 Championship
Prairie Dunes Country Club (par 70; 6,916 yards)
Final Team Leaderboard
1. Texas - 290-281-288=859 (+19)
2. Oklahoma State - 285-292-286=863 (+23)
3. Oklahoma - 296-293-280=869 (+29)
4. TCU - 287-291-293=871 (+31)
5. Kansas State - 291-298-302=891 (+51)
6. Baylor - 297-292-306=895 (+55)
7. Texas Tech - 303-294-300=897 (+57)
8. Kansas - 289-308-302=899 (+59)
9. Iowa State - 306-289-309=904 (+64)
Final Player Leaderboard
1. Brandon Stone, Texas - 70-67-73=210 (E)
2. Talor Gooch, Oklahoma State - 70-69-74=213 (+3)
T3. Cody Gribble, Texas - 72-71-72=215 (+5)
T3. Abraham Ancer, Oklahoma - 71-74-70=215 (+5)
T5. Ian Davis, Oklahoma State - 71-74-71=216 (+6)
T5. Daniel Jennevret, TCU - 75-67-74=216 (+6)
T7. Julien Brun, TCU - 70-75-72=217 (+7)
T7. Scott Fernandez, Iowa State - 72-72-73=217 (+7)
T7. Niclas Mansson, Baylor - 70-72-75=217 (+7)
T10. Kramer Hickok, Texas - 74-72-72=218 (+8)
T10. Pontus Gad, TCU - 70-75-73=218 (+8)
T10. Chris Gilbert, Kansas - 69-73-76=218 (+8)
T10. Curtis Yonke, Kansas State - 70-73-75=218 (+8)
Texas Players
T14. Julio Vegas - 77-71-71=219 (+9)
T33. Toni Hakula - 74-72-83=229 (+19)
