Quade Cummins
Austin Eckroat
Quade and
Austin: From OJGT to Walker Cup, NCAA Championship and beyond awesome honor. It’s an achievement you have for life and one you’ll look back on amily, friends, teammates, coach- forever.” Rose was indeed bursting with pride at es and anyone with a golf interest the news, not for himself but for in the entire state were both players whom he’s watched thrilled at the news that Austin develop since they were 12. Eckroat and Quade Cummiins “It’s just pride in the hard work were named to the 10-man U.S. those two have put in and I’ve side in the upcoming Walker Cup, seen it in both of them since they May 8-9 at Seminole Golf Club in were 12,” Rose said. “It’s incredJuno Beach, Fla. ible, yet it doesn’t surprise me and No one more so than Morri the best is yet to come for both Rose, longtime director of the Ryan Hybl of them.” Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour. To It’s going to be a fascinating have a full 20 percent of the U.S. spring for the two, who have deteam have cut their competitive veloped a close friendship while teeth in OJGT events before goplaying together frequently at ing on to stardom for Oklahoma Oak Tree National where both are State and Oklahoma, respectivemembers. They will join together ly, is astounding. to try to help the U.S. defeat Brit“It is just really cool,” said ain and Ireland, then immediately Oklahoma State coach Alan BratAlan Bratton resume their leadership roles for ton, who represented the United States in the 1995 Walker Cup. “I hope their respective teams intent on winning somewhere Morri Rose is smiling and the NCAA Championship when it is contaking a lot of pride in this. It’s going to tested May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf be a special deal for both of them and an Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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The two teams have been clashing with regularity since the college season resumed. OSU shot 47-under par to clip the Sooners by four shots in Tucson, their last pairing before the Big 12 Championship April 2628 at Prairie Dunes. They could possibly be paired in the NCAA Regional that OSU is hosting May 16-19 at Karsten Creek. Following the NCAA, both will turn pro and attempt to play their way onto the Korn Ferry Tour. Eckroat was clinging to the fifth spot in the PGA Tour University rankings at press time while Cummins was 12th but both will have the opportunity to improve and gain KFT exemptions. “I’ll be going about every week right through August,” Eckroat said. “This is going to add another event into an already hectic schedule, but it’s going to be fun. It means a lot to play for your country and being a Walker Cup player has a nice ring to it.” OU coach Ryan Hybl has watched Cummins give his all to improve over the course of six years in Norman. The Weatherford native works intently with swing instructor Ryan Rody, director of W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
