The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championship
No. 17 Men's Golf preview: Big 12 Championship
04.21.2024 | Men's Golf
The Longhorns compete at Whispering Pines Golf Club on Monday through Wednesday.
When: Monday, April 22 – Wednesday, April 24
Format: 36 holes of stroke play on Monday, 18 holes each on Tuesday and Wednesday
Where: Whispering Pines Golf Club (Trinity, Texas)
Course Info: Par-72; 7,434 yards
Television (Wednesday only): Big 12 Now/ESPN+ (Ryan Burr, play-by-play; Suzy Whaley, analyst)
Live Scoring: https://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=28822
Tournament Notes
Texas at the Big 12 Championship: Texas has claimed a total of eight Big 12 Conference team titles since the league's inception prior to the 1996-97 season (2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017). Seven different Texas players have captured individual medalist honors at the Big 12 Championship, including David Gossett (1999), Jason Hartwick (2004), Matthew Rosenfeld (2006), Brandon Stone (2013), Scottie Scheffler (2015), Doug Ghim (2018) and Cole Hammer (2021). In program history, UT has registered a total of 47 all-time conference team championships and 40 all-time conference individual titles.
The Tourney Field: The 14-team field at the Big 12 Championship is seeded in the following order (with Scoreboard powered by Clippd rankings in parentheses): No. 1 Texas Tech (12), No. 2 Oklahoma (14), No. 3 TEXAS (17), No. 4 Oklahoma State (27), No. 5 Baylor (35), No. 6 BYU (41), No. 7 Houston (49), No. 8 West Virginia (65), No. 9 Kansas State (69), No. 10 Kansas (70), No. 11 Iowa State (80), No. 12 Cincinnati (79), No. 13 TCU (95) and No. 14 UCF (151). The Longhorns will be paired with Texas Tech and Oklahoma in Monday's first and second rounds and will begin first-round play on the 1st tee at 7:30 a.m. Central.
Television Schedule: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ will provide live streaming coverage of Wednesday's final round from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Central.
Team Rankings: Texas is No. 17 in the most recent national rankings provided by Scoreboard powered by Clippd (April 18).
Last Time Out: Texas tallied a three-round score of 17-over-par 1067 (363-353-351) to finish in sixth place at the Western Intercollegiate (April 15-17) at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif. The Longhorns finished just four strokes out of second place, as the top seven teams in the tournament's final standings all completed play within a margin of 10 strokes. The tourney used a play-six, count-five scoring system. Stanford claimed the team title with a 54-hole total of 8-over-par 1058, while No. 8 Washington placed second at 13-over-par 1063 and No. 21 California took third at 14-over-par 1064. Tommy Morrison carded a 4-under-par 66 in the final round to post a collegiate career-best tie for fourth place in the individual standings with a three-round score of 2-under-par 208 (75-67-66). Nathan Petronzio earned a tie for ninth place with a 54-hole total of even-par 210 (67-71-72).
Runner-up in Augusta: Texas tallied a three-round score of 15-under-par 849 (285-285-279) to place second in the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 6-7) at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. The Longhorns finished six strokes behind team champion and No. 1-ranked North Carolina at 21-under-par 843 (281-279-283). Oklahoma State took third at 13-under-par 851 (285-288-278). The 15-team field featured five squads in the Top 25 of the national rankings. Christiaan Maas was UT's top individual performer in ninth place with a three-round score of 4-under-par 212 (70-69-73). Tommy Morrison carded a 5-under 67 in Sunday's final round and climbed into a tie for 10th place in the individual standings at 3-under-par 213 (68-78-67). Brian Stark tied for 14th at 2-under-par 214 (73-71-70), and Nathan Petronzio tied for 20th at even-par 216 (74-71-71).
Runner-up at Johnnie-O: The Longhorns registered a 54-hole total of 22-under-par 842 (287-276-279) to finish runner-up at the Johnnie-O Intercollegiate (Mar. 11-12) at Sea Island Plantation Course in St. Simons Island, Ga. Notre Dame claimed the team title at 32-under-par 832 (287-270-275). Christiaan Maas paced Texas with a three-round score of 8-under-par 20 (69-68-71) to tie for fourth in the individual standings.
Third at Southern Highlands: Texas posted a three-round score of 2-over-par 866 (284-295-287) to finish in third place at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 25-27) at Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas. Tommy Morrison registered a 5-under 67 in the final round to finish in a tie for sixth in the individual standings with a 54-hole total of 4-under-par 212 (72-73-67). Nathan Petronzio also registered a season-best tournament finish with a tie for ninth at 2-under-par 214 (71-69-74). The tournament field featured eight squads in the Top 25 of the national rankings, including No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Auburn.
Runner-up at Cypress Point in Final Fall Tourney: Texas finished as runner-up at the Cypress Point Classic (Oct. 30-31) at Cypress Point Club. In the eight-team event that featured a Walker Cup/Ryder Cup type format with match play, the Longhorns earned a 2-1 win in the opening-round foursomes against Georgia Tech and followed with a 2-1 victory in the semifinals fourball over Pepperdine. In the championship match, Texas registered a 3-3 tie against Arizona State, but the Sun Devils earned the title by virtue of a tiebreaker based on most holes won.
Big 12 Match Play Champs: Texas registered a 4-1 victory over then-No. 21 Baylor in the championship match at the 2023 Big 12 Match Play Tournament at the Clubs at Houston Oaks. During the three-day event (Oct. 9-11), the Longhorns registered an overall record of 4-1 with the only setback coming in a 4-2 defeat to then-No. 19 Oklahoma in an exhibition match. Texas claimed a 5-0 victory over Cincinnati and a 3.5-1.5 win against Kansas State during the pool play rounds. The Longhorns followed with a 3.5-1.5 victory over Oklahoma State in the bracket semifinals before concluding their run with the 4-1 win against Baylor in the championship match. Nathan Petronzio and Brian Stark led the way individually during the tourney, as both posted 4-1 match-play records. Jacob Sosa also added a 3-1-1 mark during the event.
Runner-Up at Olympia Fields: The Longhorns concluded the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 15-17) with a runner-up finish in the team standings after a 36-hole total of 4-under-par 556 (280-276). The final round of the tourney at Olympia Fields Country Club was canceled due to weather. No. 1 North Carolina claimed the team title with a two-round score of 10-under-par 550 (281-269). Texas finished six strokes behind UNC, while No. 4 Georgia Tech took third at 3-under-par 557 (277-280). The 15-team field featured 11 teams in the preseason Division I Coaches poll. Christiaan Maas placed third in the individual standings with a 36-hole score of 7-under-par 133 (69-64), while Jacob Sosa finished fourth at 5-under-par 135 (66-69).
The Fields Factor: Now in his 27th season as head coach at Texas, John Fields has guided the Longhorns to 21 NCAA Championship appearances in his 25 opportunities (no NCAA tourney in 2020 due to COVID-19). Under Fields' leadership, UT has posted 10 top-five finishes at the NCAA Championship, including NCAA team titles in 2012 and 2022 and runner-up showings in 2016 and 2019. Prior to his time at Texas, Fields led the University of New Mexico to nine NCAA Championship appearances in 10 seasons (1988-97). Fields has earned Golfweek's National Coach of the Year honors three times (2012, 2016 and 2022) and Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades nine times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2022) during his tenure at Texas.
16 Straight: UT's streak of 16 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances is the longest current streak in NCAA Division I men's golf. Here's a look at the longest active NCAA Championship appearances entering the 2023-24 season.
|
Number of Consecutive NCAA Championship Appearances |
School |
|
16 |
TEXAS |
|
12 |
Oklahoma |
|
9 |
Vanderbilt |
|
8 |
Arizona State |
|
6 |
North Carolina |
Advancing to Match Play: Not only has Texas been a mainstay in advancing to the NCAA Championships, the Longhorns have consistently produced strong results while at the national championship. In the last 11 opportunities (dating back to the 2012 NCAA Championships), UT has advanced to the Match Play quarterfinals stage (final eight teams) a total of SEVEN times. Texas is one of just TWO schools (Illinois) to advance to Match Play at least SEVEN times in the last 11 opportunities (2020 tourney was canceled due to COVID-19).
|
NCAA Match Play Appearances in Last 11 Tournaments (2012-23) |
School |
|
7 (2012-13-15-16-18-19-22) |
TEXAS |
|
7 (2013-14-15-16-17-21-23) |
Illinois |
|
6 (2016-17-18-19-21-22) |
Oklahoma |
|
6 (2014-17-18-19-21-22) |
Oklahoma State |
|
6 (2015-16-17-19-21-22) |
Vanderbilt |
The Texas Lineup: UT will be represented by the following five players and one alternate at the Big 12 Championship:
- Tommy Morrison (So., 71.54)
- Nathan Petronzio (Sr., 71.33)
- Keaton Vo (So., 73.53)
- Christiaan Maas (So., 71.09)
- Brian Stark (Gr., 72.38)
Alt) Jack Gilbert (Fr., 77.00)
Inside the Texas Lineup
Tommy Morrison: No. 77 in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking (April 17) … competed in each of UT's first 11 events this season and ranks third on the team in scoring average (71.54) … has tallied three top-10 individual finishes this year … ten of his 26 rounds this season have been in the 60s and 13 have been par or better … recorded a collegiate career-best tie for fourth at the Western Intercollegiate (April 15-17) with a 2-under-par 208 (75-67-66) … tied for 10th at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 6-7) with a 3-under-par 213 (68-78-67) … registered his collegiate-low 18-hole score of 7-under-par 64 in the final round of the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 26) … tied for 12th at the Johnnie-O Intercollegiate (Mar. 11-12) with a 5-under-par 11 (73-68-70) … recorded a tie for sixth-place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 25-27) with a 4-under-par 212 (72-73-67) … claimed medalist honors and advanced to the quarterfinals in match play at the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur in July … won the 36-hole stroke play competition at the U.S. Junior Amateur with an 8-under-par 135 (66-69) … narrowly missed qualifying for match play at the 2023 Western Amateur with a 72-hole score of 5-under-par 279 (68-72-69-70), but stayed in Chicago as served as caddy for teammate Christiaan Maas during the match play portion of the event … advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2023 British Amateur Championship in June at Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale courses in England … enrolled at Texas prior the 2023 spring semester … competed in seven of UT's nine events in the spring of 2023 and ranked third on the team in scoring average (71.50) … shot par or better in 11 of his 18 stroke-play rounds last spring, including a pair of rounds in the 60s … carded a season-best tie for eighth place at the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15-17) with a 5-under-par 208 (68-70-70) … his opening-round score of 3-under 68 at the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15) marked his season-low 18-hole score … tied for ninth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 7-under-par 209 (70-70-69) while competing as an individual … made his collegiate debut in the match against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) and earned a 2&1 victory over Ben Reuter … posted a runner-up showing in the 2022 North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 … finished fourth in the inaugural Elite Amateur Cup in 2022 after competing in six of the seven championships (Elite Amateur Cup includes the Sunnehanna Amateur, Northeast Amateur, Trans-Miss Amateur, Southern Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur, North & South Amateur and the Western Amateur) … paired with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and earned a qualifying spot for the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship … placed fourth at the 2022 Junior Orange Bowl International … tied for sixth at the 2021 Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship … won the 2020 Southern Junior championship.
Nathan Petronzio: No. 69 in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking (April 11) … competed in nine of UT's first 11 events this season and ranks second on the team in scoring average (71.33) … has tallied two top-10 and five top-25 individual finishes this year … thirteen of his 21 rounds this season have been par or better, including four rounds in the 60s … equaled his season-best finish with a tie for ninth at the Western Intercollegiate (April 15-17) at even-par 210 (67-71-72) … tied for 20th at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 6-7) with an even-par 216 (74-71-71) … tied for 19th at the Johnnie-O Intercollegiate (Mar. 11-12) with a 2-under-par 214 (71-74-69) … recorded a tie for ninth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 25-27) with a 2-under-par 214 (71-69-74) … posted a 4-1 individual record during the Big 12 Match Play Tournament (Oct. 9-11) … enrolled at Texas prior to the fall 2023 semester … spent his previous three seasons at SMU … earned his BS in Applied Physiology and Sport Management from SMU in Spring 2023 and is currently in the Sport Management graduate program at Texas … two-time American Athletic Conference (AAC) selection as a sophomore (2022) and junior (2023) … won two individual titles (Wake Forest Invitational and the Trinity Forest Invitational), led the team in scoring average (70.91) and competed as an individual at the NCAA Regional in 2023 … recorded four top-10 individual finishes and shot par or better in 22 of his 33 stroke-play rounds as a junior … won the AAC individual title as a sophomore in 2022 … posted a team-best 72.27 scoring average and shot par or better in 14 of his 33 rounds, including eight rounds in the 60s, as a sophomore … named the 2021 AAC Freshman of the Year … recorded a 73.24 scoring average and shot par or better in 10 of his 24 stroke-play rounds … attended Lake Travis High School (Lake Travis, Texas) and posted the lowest career scoring average (70.4) in school history … earned a runner-up finish at the 2020 Byron Nelson Junior … tied for third at the AJGA Sergio Garcia and participated in the U.S. Amateur in 2019.
Keaton Vo: No. 231 in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking (April 17) … competed in seven of UT's first 11 events this season and sports a 73.53 stroke average … has shot par or better in five of his 17 rounds this year … tied for 34th at the Western Intercollegiate (April 15-17) with a 5-over-par 215 (72-70-73) … tied for 13th at the Johnnie-O Individual (Mar. 11-12) at 7-over-par 220 (77-71-72) … advanced to the Round of 32 in match play at the prestigious North & South Amateur in June (Pinehurst, N.C.) … competed in 13 of UT's 14 events as a freshman and registered a 72.55 stroke average … shot par or better in 11 of his 31 stroke-play rounds last year, including four rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best second-place individual finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70) … tallied a career-low 18-hole score of 5-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) … carded a 3-under 68 in the opening round of the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15) that included a hole-in-one on the fifth hole (6-iron at 202 yards) … tied for fourth in the stroke-play portion of the East Lake Cup (Oct. 24) with a 2-under-par 70 … tied for 19th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 3-under-par 213 (74-70-69) … posted a 4-0-1 individual record at the 2022 Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … medalist at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur with a 36-hole score of 9-under-par 134 (69-65) … 2022 Texas Class 5A state individual champion and led Anderson High School to the team championship … tabbed the No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 7 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022 … four-time Rolex Junior All-American … two-time Wyndham Cup participant (2020 and 2022) … won the individual title at the 2020 George Hannon Junior Invitational at UT Golf Club … three-time AJGA Champion, capturing the 2019 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Reynolds Lake Oconee, the 2019 AJGA Junior All-Star at Wigwam and the 2018 AJGA Preview at The Republic … registered seven top-10 finishes on the AJGA Tour, including a tie for second at the 2021 Jackie Burke Invitational.
Christiaan Maas: No. 16 in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking (April 17) … competed in 10 of UT's first 11 events this season and leads the team in scoring average (71.09) … has tallied three top-10 individual finishes this year … nine of his 23 rounds this season have been in the 60s and 12 have been par or better … placed ninth at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 6-7) at 4-under-par 212 (70-69-73) … tied for fourth at the Johnnie-O Intercollegiate (Mar. 11-12) with an 8-under-par 208 (69-68-71) … recorded a runner-up finish at the Africa Amateur Championship (Feb. 21-24) at Leopard Creek Golf Club (Malelane, South Africa) … registered a 72-hole total of 13-under-par 275 (71-69-63-72) and advanced to a three-man playoff at the Africa Amateur, before Altin Van der Merwe made birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the title … fired a 9-under 63 during the third round of the Africa Amateur (Feb. 23) and tied the course record for lowest 18-hole score … recorded a season-best third-place finish at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 15-17) with a 7-under-par 133 (69-64) ... posted a collegiate-best 18-hole score of 6-under 64 in the second round of the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 16), topping his previous mark of 6-under 66 in the opening round of last year's Southern Highlands Collegiate … competed for his home country of South Africa at the 33rd World Amateur Team Championship (Oct. 18-21) in Abu Dhabi, UAE and helped his team to a seventh-place finish in the team standings, marking the first top-10 result for South Africa since 1982 at the prestigious event … recorded a 72-hole total of 8-under-par 280 (70-70-71-69) at the WATC to tie for 17th place in the individual standings … one of 25 players named to the preseason watch list for the Fred Haskins Award … runner-up at the 2023 Western Amateur Championship … one of 12 men's players who competed for the International Team at the prestigious 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup in early June at Laurel Valley Golf Club outside Ligonier, Pa. … earned Division I PING second-team All-America and PING All-Central Region team honors as a freshman in 2023 … named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year and was selected to the 10-person All-Big 12 Team … competed in each of UT's 14 events as a freshman and led the team in stroke average (70.57) … during his 12 stroke-play tourney appearances last season, he registered five top-10 and 10 top-20 individual finishes … shot par or better in 23 of his 35 stroke-play rounds last year, including 12 rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best individual runner-up finish last year at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 10-under-par 206 (66-69-71) … posted a 2&1 win over Christo Lamprecht in last year's match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tied for 17th at last winter's DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship (Dec. 8-11) in Melalane, South Africa with a 9-under-par 279 (71-70-70-68) … played alongside Ernie Els in the opening two rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship … also made the cut and tied for 35th at last year's DP World Tour's Investec South African Open Championship (Dec. 1-4) in Johannesburg at 5-under-par 283 (69-65-72-77) … competed for South Africa in the prestigious 2022 World Amateur Team Championship (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) in Paris … advanced to Match Play at the 2022 U.S. Amateur … tied for 11th in stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur … claimed a five-shot victory with a 14-under 270 (65-70-67-68) to win the prestigious Brabazon Trophy at Saunton Golf Club in England in May 2022 … posted six wins during the 2021 season, including the Cape Province Open and the South African Amateur Championship … 2020 and 2021 Silver Salver Champion.
Brian Stark: No. 57 in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking (April 17) … competed in each of UT's first 11 events this season and sports a 72.38 scoring average … has tallied three top-15 individual finishes this year … eleven of his 26 rounds this season have been par or better, including three rounds in the 60s … tied for 14th at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 6-7) with a 2-under-par 214 (73-71-70) … recorded a season-best tie for 13th place at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 25-26) at 2-under-par 211 (69-73-69) … posted a 4-1 individual record during the Big 12 Match Play Tournament (Oct. 9-11) … tied for 14th at the season-opening Sahalee Players Championship (Sept. 9-10) with a 4-over-par 220 (71-74-75) … tied for fourth at the 2023 Northeast Amateur Invitational (Rumford, R.I.) in June with a 72-hole score of 7-under-par 269 (65-70-66-68) … enrolled at Texas prior to the 2023 spring semester … graduate transfer who spent his previous three seasons at Oklahoma State … earned his BBA in Sports Management from Oklahoma State in Fall 2022 and is currently in the Sport Management graduate program at Texas … earned All-Big 12 and PING All-Central Region team accolades last year … competed in all of UT's nine events last spring and ranked second on the team in scoring average (71.04) … during his eight stroke-play tourney appearances last year, he registered two top-five and three top-10 individual finishes … shot par or better in 14 of his 25 stroke-play rounds in last spring, including 10 rounds in the 60s … recorded his best finish as a Longhorn with a third-place showing at the Big 12 Championship (April 24-26) at 6-under-par 274 (69-72-67-66) … claimed a spot on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team ... tied for fourth at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) at 9-under-par 204 (68-71-65) … his 6-under 65 in the final round at the Valspar Collegiate marked his low 18-hole score at Texas … tied for eighth at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) at 6-under-par 210 (71-70-69) … earned third-team All-America honors as a junior at Oklahoma State in 2022 from both the GCAA and Golfweek … two-time GCAA All-America Scholar (as a sophomore and junior) … claimed All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors as a junior … tied for 15th at the 2022 NCAA Championship at 6-over-par 286 … had a season-best tie for third place at The Carmel Cup at 5-under-par 211 (73-70-68) in 2022 … also placed 13th at the Big 12 Championship and tied for seventh at the NCAA Columbus Regional during his junior year at Oklahoma State … first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore in 2021 … advanced to the quarterfinals of match play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
Jack Gilbert: Played in four of UT's first 11 events this season and sports a 77.00 stroke average … competed as an individual in UT's season-opening tourney at the Sahalee Player Championship and placed 64th at 20-over-par 236 (76-78-82) … tied for 71st at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 2-3) at 15-over-par 225 (75-74-76) … tied for 79th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 25-27) at 19-over-par 235 (76-85-74) … tied for 79th at the Western Intercollegiate (April 15-17) with an 18-over-par 228 (81-73-74) … recorded his collegiate low 18-hole score of 3-over-par 73 in the second round at the Western Intercollegiate (April 16) … enrolled at Texas prior to the fall 2023 semester … runner-up at the Polo Golf Junior Classic in June 2023 … runner-up at the Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship in March 2023 … No. 11 in the final Class of 2023 recruiting rankings by Golfweek.
Players Mentioned
