OSU redshirt freshman Jonathan Moore takes the individual title

SUNRIVER, Ore. – Powered by individual medalist Jonathan Moore’s 12-under performance over the four-round tournament, the Oklahoma State Cowboys won the 2006 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship on Saturday afternoon. The tournament, held at Crosswater Club, was hosted by the University of Portland.

The Cowboys entered the final round of the tournament in a three-way tie for second place, three strokes behind Washington. Oklahoma State overtook Washington early in the day and withstood a strong challenge from Florida to claim its first NCAA men’s golf championship since 2000 and its tenth in school history. The Cowboys finished three strokes ahead of Florida and four strokes ahead of both Minnesota and Wake Forest.

“Our guys tried to remain emotionally even this week and not go through the highs and lows,” first-year Oklahoma State head coach Mike McGraw said following the event. “To get both titles (team and individual) is pretty special, and I can’t even put into words what I’m feeling right now.”

Moore, a redshirt freshman from Vancouver, Wash., carded a final-round 69, the third time this tournament that he shot in the sixties. His final shot of the tournament was fitting, rolling in a downhill 12-foot putt for a birdie on the par-4 18th.

“I thought the pressure was just going to be unbearable in the beginning,” Moore said. “But I just got out there and felt really calm. I’m just happy to be with these guys – they work really hard and they have great drive.”

Moore becomes just the seventh player in history to earn an NCAA individual championship as a freshman. Ironically, one of those seven also participated in this tournament. Arizona State’s Alejandro Canizares, now a senior, won medalist honors in 2003 and finished in a tie for sixth place at 4 under this weekend. Washington senior James Lepp, who won the NCAA individual championship in 2005, finished in a tie for eighth with a 3-under 285.

Washington, the tournament’s leader after three rounds of play, struggled during the final round. The Huskies were the lone school to exceed a team total of 300 on Saturday, shooting a 13-over 301 despite having much drier conditions than the teams faced on Friday. Washington ended up in a tie for ninth place at 6 over.

The 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship will be held from May 30 to June 2, 2007 at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Willamsburg, Va.

2006 Ping All-Americans

Ryan Baca, Baylor

Alejandro Canizares

Rhys Davies, East Tennessee State

Matt Every, Florida

Oscar Floren, Texas Tech

Billy Horschel, Florida

Dustin Johnson, Coastal Carolina

Chris Kirk, Georgia

Pablo Martin, Oklahoma State

Jonathan Moore, Oklahoma State

Jack Nicklaus Award: Pablo Martin