Oklahoma Sooners Golf Advances to NCAA Championship Final

The Oklahoma Sooners golf team won its match against the Illinois Fighting Illini to advance to Wednesday’s NCAA Championship Final. Blaine Hale, Max McGreevy and Rylee Reinertson were the first three to tee off for the Sooners, and they each got it done with 4&3, 2&1 and 3&1 victories, respectively, to get OU past a talented Illinois team.

Oklahoma had to rally from behind on the back nine early Tuesday morning against Baylor to reach the semifinals. That would not be the case in the afternoon match, as OU pounced on the Illini early and never truly looked back. That doesn’t indicate, however, that there wasn’t plenty of drama during the matches. Blaine Hale won easily, but Max McGreevy, OU’s lone senior, had to fend off a furious late charge from Illinois’ Giovanni Tadiotto to earn OU’s second point. Rylee Reinertson also had to make some seriously clutch puts to keep Michael Feagles at arm’s length to close things out. Had McGreevy or Reinertson not hung on, OU would’ve needed a point from either Grant Hirschman or Brad Dalke, both of whom were involved in some really tough matches. Hirschman’s match as all square through 16, and Dalke was 1 down through 16.

OU will face the Oregon Ducks, who defeated Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State to reach Wednesday’s final match. The Ducks are looking to defend their national championship, which was won against Texas in Eugene last year. The match will be televised live on Golf Channel starting at 3 p.m. CT. Tee times are scheduled for 2:10 p.m. CT.