Inaugural event at Southern Hills course `pretty special'

TULSA — Monday was a momentous day at Southern Hills Country Club.

The state's top amateur golfers roamed the fairways and played competitively for the first time at one of Oklahoma' s top courses. Southern Hills hosted the inaugural Oklahoma Junior Masters, which welcomed 12 collegiate players, nine girls and 27 boys from across the state.

The idea came about three weeks ago, and Southern Hills worked in conjunction with the Oklahoma Golf Association to host the event. Director of Golf Cary Cozby said the event is something Southern Hills hopes to conduct again, possibly making it an annual event.

The tournament was invitation only, with tee times beginning at 11 a.m. Most of the golfers had never been to Southern Hills, let alone play the course. It's also some of the first tournament action since major renovations, $19 million worth, were completed last year.

Here' s are cap of the action:

CHA's Goodman wins boys division

Drew Goodman didn't let his slow start hamper him.

The senior at Christian Heritage Academy and OU verbal commit has had a fiery start to his summer schedule, but that wasn't the case Monday. After two holes, Goodman was 3-over par and struggling to find momentum.

That didn't hold him back, though.

Goodman posted the only even-par 71 score in all three divisions, including the only under par score (34) of the day on either nine, with his coming on the back. He won the boys division by three shots against Norman North junior Jake Hopper and five against former Oklahoma Christian School standout and OU freshman Jaxon Dowell.

“I really wish I could've hit that birdie putt on 16 and shoot under par,” Goodman said, “but I'm happy with how I played today. It was a blast.”

Pocola's Nelke wins girls division

Southern Hills is an ever tougher challenge for girls golfers, but that didn't hamper Raychel Nelke.

The junior at Pocola carded a 5-over 76 to win the girls division by one shot over Oklahoma Christian School junior Brooklyn Benn. The two were in the same threesome Monday, with each carding a few birdies and capitalizing on great shots all afternoon.

Nelke's round could have been lower, too. She missed a 2-footer for bogey on the 18th hole, something she laughed about following the round.

Kingfisher senior Maddi Kamas finished third after shooting 83.

OU's McAllister bests teammate, Bedlam foe for title

Logan McAllister, a junior on OU's golf team, shot a 2-over 73 to win the Alumni division, which consisted of 12 college golfers who are from Oklahoma.

OU senior Quade Cummins and OS U junior Austin Eckroat each carded 4-over 75 rounds, tying for second. Cummins, who last played Southern Hills during the 2018 Big 12 Championships, said the renovations were awesome.

“Being to play a course like this is pretty special,” Cummins said. “You can tell they bumped up the hardness of the course.”