By RANGERS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
The Northwestern Oklahoma State men’s golf team opened up their spring season with a loss to Oklahoma Panhandle State in the annual OPSU/NWOSU Dual.
The Rangers opened up play in their spring season after a successful fall season that saw them set new records for the program and defend their home tournament with a victory, but disappointed in their first action of the spring semester. The Ranger linksters battled windy, cold conditions at Sunset Hills Golf Course in Guymon.
Oklahoma Panhandle defeated the Rangers with a team score of 301. The Rangers posted a team total of 304, led by junior Cole Ward, who got off to his spring campaign in solid fashion with a round of 74. Junior Clayton Davison also recorded a score of 74, a season low for the Ranger newcomer. Ward and Davison’s rounds of 74 placed them in a tie for second, three strokes behind individual champion Ruben Figueiredo of Oklahoma Panhandle, who garnered individual medalist honors for the duel.
The rest of the Rangers team was rounded out by rounds of 77 from freshman Joah Mitchell, 79 from Tulsa native Parker Rehorn, and an 83 from freshman Cody Hixon. Competing as individuals for the Rangers were senior Drew Sims, sophomore Aaron Dobbs, and sophomore Collin Stork. Stork led the way for the individuals with a 78, while Dobbs and Sims finished with rounds of 79 and 81 respectively.
The Rangers will have a few weeks to regroup before getting back out on the course on March 13-14 in Russellville, Arkansas. at Chamberlyne Country Club. The always-competitive field at the Dave Falconer Classic will give the Ranger men a stiff test, with multiple regionally ranked teams expected to compete in the event.