Walker Cup teammates, collegiate rivals Austin Eckroat and Quade Cummins

by ken macleod

awesome honor. It’s an achievement you The two teams have been clashing with have for life and one you’ll look back on regularity since the college season resumed.

Family, friends, teammates, coach- forever.” OSU shot 47-under par to clip the Sooners es and anyone with a golf interest Rose was indeed bursting with pride at by four shots in Tucson, their last pairing in the entire state were the news, not for himself but for before the Big 12 Championship April 26thrilled at the news that Austin both players whom he’s watched 28 at Prairie Dunes. They could possibly be Eckroat and Quade Cummiins develop since they were 12. paired in the NCAA Regional that OSU is were named to the 10-man U.S. “It’s just pride in the hard work hosting May 16-19 at Karsten Creek. side in the upcoming Walker Cup, those two have put in and I’ve Following the NCAA, both will turn May 8-9 at Seminole Golf Club in seen it in both of them since they pro and attempt to play their way onto the Juno Beach, Fla. were 12,” Rose said. “It’s incred- Korn Ferry Tour. Eckroat was clinging to

No one more so than Morri ible, yet it doesn’t surprise me and the fifth spot in the PGA Tour University Rose, longtime director of the Ryan Hybl the best is yet to come for both rankings at press time while Cummins Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour. To of them.” was 12th but both will have the opportuhave a full 20 percent of the U.S. It’s going to be a fascinating nity to improve and gain KFT exemptions. team have cut their competitive spring for the two, who have de- “I’ll be going about every week right teeth in OJGT events before go- veloped a close friendship while through August,” Eckroat said. “This is ing on to stardom for Oklahoma playing together frequently at going to add another event into an already State and Oklahoma, respective- Oak Tree National where both are hectic schedule, but it’s going to be fun. It ly, is astounding. members. They will join together means a lot to play for your country and

“It is just really cool,” said to try to help the U.S. defeat Brit- being a Walker Cup player has a nice ring Oklahoma State coach Alan Bratton, who represented the United Alan Bratton ain and Ireland, then immediately resume their leadership roles for to it.” OU coach Ryan Hybl has watched States in the 1995 Walker Cup. “I hope their respective teams intent on winning Cummins give his all to improve over somewhere Morri Rose is smiling and the NCAA Championship when it is con- the course of six years in Norman. The taking a lot of pride in this. It’s going to tested May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Weatherford native works intently with be a special deal for both of them and an Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. swing instructor Ryan Rody, director of

instruction at Southern Hills, but also soaks up everything he can from teammates and competitors. He can work the ball both ways and has a great natural feel for shotmaking.

“My best guys have always been the ones who love to play the most amount of golf and he’s at the top of the list,” Hybl said. “He would play golf every day. And that will help him in his professional career, because when you’re playing three or four weeks in a row, it’s a job and not the easiest thing to want to play or practice.”

The two hope to soon join fellow OJGT graduates Robert Streb, Kevin Tway and Talor Gooch on the big tour, while Max McGreevy, Taylor Moore and Charlie Saxon are among those trying to move up from the KFT to the PGA Tour. Numerous other graduates are at various stages of their professional or amateur careers.

“I’m just so proud of the work of all them,” Rose said.

Oklahoma State players have made 26 previous appearances in the Walker Cup. Jordan Niebrugge was the most recent in 2015. Also playing in one or more Walker Cups have been Labron Harris Jr., Dave Eichelberger, Bob Dickson, Danny Edwards, Lindy Miller, Philip Walton, Willie Wood, Scott Verplank, Brian Montgomery, Bob May, Bratton, Kris Cox, Trip Kuehne, Ed Loar, Casey Wittenberg, Rickie Fowler, Jonathan Moore, Morgan Hoffmann and Peter Uihlein.

Hybl said playing in the Walker Cup is one of the ultimate goals for all amateurs. An excellent amateur himself before trying the professional ranks, Hybl came close to making the team in 2001. Cummins joins former Sooners Charlie Coe, Anthony Kim and Hunter Haas as OU players to represent the United States against Great Britain and Ireland.

“This is the Ryder Cup and the Olympic team for college players,” Hybl said. “This is as good as it gets in amateur golf. The status that Quade is moving into with those guys is special.”

Notes: OU’s Garrett Reband moved into second place in the PGA Tour University standings with his individual victory at the N.I.T. in Tucson, Ariz. Although both coaches could still tinker with the lineups, it appears likely the starting five for top-ranked OU will be Cummins, Reband, transfer Jonathan Brightwell, Logan McAllister and Patrick Welch. OSU looks to counter with Eckroat, Eugenio Chacarra, who took second in Tucson, Aman Gupta, Bo Jin and Jonas Baumgartner.

With the Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Championship coming to Southern Hills at the end of May, I wanted to put the spotlight on golf over 50.

Jim Young For many people this time in life finds things in transition. Children are getting older and careers and lifestyles are in a new phase. For those a bit farther along there are grandchildren and retirement.

I turned 50 last year and in the PGA Club Professional ranks that meant new tournaments to play. This can be a chance to regain some distance, to sharpen skills and to retain what you need to make this golf some of your best. That is the focus of this article: the OPPORTUNITY of senior golf and what to do to take advantage of it.

I’ve worked with a large number of senior golfers on their games over the last several years. What I have found most often is that it’s not that their bodies CAN’T do what they want them to do, it’s that they HAVEN’T been exaggerating the motions enough. What they feel is enough turn isn’t enough. Hands, arms and shoulders are often far too tense. Here are some drills to help with that:

Chest high swings: Stretch your arms and the club out in front of your chest as if you were hitting a ball sitting on a tee at chest high. Swing around your chest, back and through, remembering to turn your back to the target on the way back and your chest on the way through. Relax your elbows and allow them to fold.

Trail arm only swings: Make slow swings with your trail arm only, focusing on a complete backswing and a good finish on your front leg. Then flip the club over, holding it just under the club head and swing the grip with some speed. This one will add a feeling of freedom to your motion.

Turn the back drill: Make a slow practice swing and turn your forward shoulder over your trail foot (Left shoulder over the right foot for a right-hander). Your back should feel as if it is leaning away from the target, not toward it at the top of your backswing.

Let it go drill: Every once in a while, hit several drivers in a row making the club head go as fast as you can. There is a difference between this and swinging as hard as you can. Make the CLUB HEAD go fast.

Fitness means different things for different people according to what their bodies will allow. Stretching, walking and a bit of strength training will go a long way. Walk the golf course when you can, even if it’s only a few holes. If you ride, let your playing partner pull the cart up here and there.

Super Speed Golf: I cannot recommend enough this product and its very simple training protocol. I have put 10-15 yards back on over the last couple of years in large part due to my work with it.

Club fitting can be a big help. Experiment with new club head and shaft options. South Central PGA Senior Player of the Year Tim Fleming of Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club visited the Titleist Performance Institute over the winter and found that an increase in driver shaft length added significant yardage to his tee shots. Fleming said that while it may not work for everyone, you never know until you try. Evaluate the make-up of your set of clubs. Visit your PGA Professional and make sure you have what you need to be successful.

Tim Fleming has been working with his coach for over 30 years. He visits his coach early in the year to review his fundamentals and address any concerns. Tim also works with a personal trainer on his fitness. Tim has put his coach in touch with his trainer so that they can work together to help Tim achieve his movement goals.

Nothing sharpens someone’s golf game like competition. Enter events at your level whenever possible. Don’t be afraid to push your comfort zone. Playing with better players will make you better.

Don’t hesitate to move up a tee box. If you are hitting a fairway metal into every hole, you are probably playing too far back.

Opportunity is everywhere in Senior golf. Go get yours and as always let me know if I can help.

Jim Young PGA Teaching Professional River Oaks Golf Club Edmond, OK 405-630-8183 Jpygolf12@gmail.com www.jimyounggolf.com Instagram: @jpygolf