CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Preston Stout of Oklahoma State won the NCAA individual title on Monday, shooting a final-round 69 at La Costa for a one-shot victory over Alabama’s William Jennings.
The third-ranked amateur in the world, Stout will receive exemptions into this year’s U.S. Open and next year’s Masters, provided he remains an amateur. The junior had a four-day total of 14-under 274.
Stout became the 10th Oklahoma State player to win an NCAA title and first since Matthew Wolff in 2019.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I’m here. That鈥檚 why I’m able to win tournaments like this,鈥� Stout said. 鈥淲e have the best team in the world, the best coaching staff in the country.鈥�
The Cowboys were one of eight teams to advance to match play as they seek their second consecutive team title. Auburn earned the top seed. Texas, Vanderbilt, Florida and Arizona also advanced, and four teams were part of a playoff for the final two spots: UCLA, Tennessee, North Carolina and Stanford.
Auburn’s Jackson Koivun, the world’s top-ranked amateur, was never a factor after shooting an even-par 72 in the third round to fall five shots off the pace. He closed with a 71 and finished in a tie for 11th.
Stout was 5 under through 11 holes and had a five-shot lead at one point, but he dropped shots on Nos. 12, 14 and 17 to fall into a tie with Jennings. Stout then closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th that held up for his fifth victory this season.
鈥淗e was ready for the moment,鈥� Oklahoma State coach Alan Bratton said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 built for that. I鈥檝e seen him do it a number of times.鈥�
Stout shot 65 on Sunday to take a one-shot lead over Jennings through three rounds.
Jennings, who started on the back nine, made double bogey on his fourth hole of the day but made six birdies in a 10-hole stretch, pulling even with Stout when he birdied the 203-yard, par-3 eighth hole. With Stout staying loose for a potential playoff, Jennings missed the green on the par-4 ninth, his chip was too strong and he missed the comebacker.
鈥淚 fought pretty hard,鈥� Jennings said. 鈥淚t stinks to come up short like that, but there鈥檚 a lot of positives to take from this week.鈥�
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