K-State junior golfer Jeremy Gandon captured a share of K-State's first individual conference crown since 1951, and the Wildcats' first ever individual men's golf Big 12 Championship with a 283 (+3) over four grueling rounds at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The course, which has hosted numerous PGA Championships and elite-level events, turned even tougher in the final round as a day of near perfect conditions was followed by a soggy day of consistent rain.
Gandon, one of K-State's most talented players who sputtered through much of the season before catching fire and securing his first tournament win in the final weeks, sat in third place and one stroke off the lead after shooting 71-69-71—211 (+1) with 18 holes to play.
Playing championship golf means making good shots, but just as important, it also means making the most of the bad ones. Even good players find a bunker, grove of trees or occasionally hit it into the opposite fairway – but only great players find a way to still make birdie, par or limit damage to bogey. Here's a look back at the closing 18 holes – the good and not-so-good shots in a gritty, 73-stroke performance yielding the program's first individual crown in 67 years.
Southern Hills Country Club – Round 4 7,084 yards, Par 70
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:Trouble on the right of this dogleg right will require a tee shot to the left side of the fairway. Most players will use a 3-wood or long-iron from the tee. The short approach shot to this elevated two-level green must be kept below the hole to have a reasonable birdie chance on one of the trickiest greens on the course.
How Gandon Played It: Gandon entered the final round a single stroke behind Oklahoma's Grant Hirschman, the GolfStat No. 56 player in the country, and Doug Ghim, the 11th ranked player and the top amateur finisher at this year's Masters Tournament. His playing partner for the final round was West Virginia's Matthew Sharpsteen, another title contender tied for fourth and two strokes off the leaders. With temperatures in the mid-50s and a light rain falling, Gandon checked into the starting tent on the 10th tee box to make final preparations – ready his scorecard, grab a couple Gatorade Fuel bars, mark his balls and check-in with the match referee. At 9:43 a.m., Gandon teed off, the last of K-State's contingent to do so, and hit his ball just to the left of the middle of the fairway. His approach shot was a dart and landed within 15 feet of the hole, but backspin rolled the ball to the front of the green near the tough pin location and then off, before painfully dribbling down the hill 15 feet. For his third shot, Gandon chipped on within 12 feet and just missed the putt for par. He tapped in for bogey and drops back into a tie for fourth with Sharpsteen at 2-over for the tournament. Gandon in the tee box on
No. 10 to start the round. In Jeremy's Words: "During the last round, I knew the weather conditions were going to be hard, especially on a major championship level golf course. I wasn't as focused on the result and that I was in contention, but more on the round – every hole and every shot, trying to give my best in those conditions. Any lack of focus can lead to a wasted shot or two. I was very focused on the process over the actual result itself.
"The wind was blowing in a little bit and playing uphill. I knew the green was soft and the ball would come back eventually. I didn't hit that solid but I landed pin-high on the right and the ball just spun back all the way down. I had a very difficult chip and made bogey on that – not the best start but kind of a bad break too because I thought the shot was good and would stay on the green. There were a lot of hole locations like that, right on the edge, that if you didn't hit the perfect shot you can have an impossible up and down to make right after."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:The shortest hole on the course requires a pin-point accuracy because this small green is surrounded by four bunkers. The combination of an elevated tee and the prevailing right-to-left wind will test the players' skills.
How Gandon Played It: Facing another front-of-the-green pin placement, Gandon hit his tee shot right on line, lands it just to the middle-back of the green. He just missed the birdie putt, and has another tap-in, this time for par. He remains in third place as the other contenders bogeyed. Ghim prepares to tee off from the front nine as Texas is one of five teams, including No. 3 Oklahoma, top-ranked Oklahoma State, Baylor and upstart Iowa State, still in the hunt for a team title.
In Jeremy's Words: "The hole location was right behind the front bunker so you don't want to be short with a sand save to make, so I played long, played the middle of the green, then had a long putt for birdie. Made a two-putt, that was a good par here, kind of a tough hole."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:Singled out by Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer as one of America's greatest par-4 holes, this slight dogleg left calls for a precision long drive to a blind landing area to take full advantage of the right-to-left slope of the fairway. The second shot, a long- to middle-iron, must be equally adroit to carry water and bunkers to the well-banked green. Bogies and double bogies will abound on this hole.
How Gandon Played It: Gandon hit a big drive with good placement on right side of the fairway, leaves himself a fairly open approach shot upcoming to the green. Hit next shot to the left side, hooked a little perhaps. The ball is in the fringe just off the green, outside of a bunker. The placement makes it an awkward shot from the ledge and Gandon hits it too hard. The ball rolls 15 feet beyond the hole, and he slams his club, frustrated, into bag. He's got a long putt to try to save par, knocks it close but taps in for another bogey. That shot drops him further down the leaderboard into sixth. Elsewhere, Texas' Scottie Sheffler, another top-50 player, is storming up the leaderboard at 3-under for the day. Gandon is three back of the leaders through three holes.
In Jeremy's Words: "I had about 200 yards (on the second shot) and didn't see the wind was blowing right to left. I hit a good shot, right on target, and the ball caught the wind and finished on the left – not in the bunker. That was a really hard up and down from there because I couldn't stand, the bunker was so deep I had to put the ball back in my stance and hit a low shot with a closed club face. That was really tough. My playing partner (on Tuesday) had the same shot and played lefty with the putter, but I had too much fringe to do that so I didn't try it."
Gandon stands with heels on the bunker facing a difficult chip just off the 12th green.
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:The last good birdie opportunity on the course will provide plenty of excitement. A big drive on the slight dogleg left hole will leave an opportunity to reach the green in two, but not without risk. To reach the green in two the player faces a blind shot to a small green well protected by sand and water. With a tough finish ahead, the opportunity to make eagle or birdie might well be worth the risk, although laying up in front of the two ponds will still provide a good chance for a birdie.
How Gandon Played It: Another drive to the middle of the fairway, lands in a big valley. Next shot also in the fairway, just in front of the two ponds with a bunker-free approach to the green. Knocks his approach within three feet, drains it and gets a stroke back. Climbs into tie for third, two shots back of the leaders.
In Jeremy's Words: "That was kind of a good bounce back. I hit the fairway and had maybe 230 in, which is a distance I would go for it usually, but I had an uphill stance and with the weather and the rain, I would rather lay up in front of the water to leave me 80 yards, which was a standard wedge shot. It was a pretty good shot from there with the back hole location and wet green, it was kind of hard to control the spin. I did good there and made birdie right after a bogey, so it was a good bounce back."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:A great and picturesque par-3 that has length, six bunkers and out-of-bounds on the left. It will require a wood or long-iron firmly struck to negate the prevailing right-to-left wind. A three here will be well earned.
How Gandon Played It: Hit into bunker on the left of green, one of six sand hazards around the hole. Hit out of the sand and onto the green, about 16 feet from pin. His putt has good speed, but rolled it just left of the cup. Taps in another for bogey. Now sits tied for fourth, three shots back of the leaders. Oklahoma's Hirschman is just starting his round, in the field's final group, and opens as the lone tournament leader.
In Jeremy's Words: "I just kind of pull drawed my tee shot, that's a long hole, playing 220-or-something. That wasn't a really bad shot and the bunker shot wasn't that hard, just kind of misjudged my bunker shot – it wasn't as downslope as I thought. I hit a good putt, it just didn't turn."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:A dogleg left with a bunker guarding the corner requires a well-positioned drive to a very narrow landing area. The second shot, a medium- to short-iron, must avoid bunkers surrounding the green. The undulating surface of the putting green may result in many three-putts.
How Gandon Played It: Gandon's drive goes left, and he's visibly upset from the start. The ball misses a fairway bunker and is in first cut to the left, looks tough as he's in some trees. Arriving at the ball, Gandon and K-State head coach Grant Robbins, who walked all 72 holes with his talented junior, see that the trees frame the shot perfectly, but it'll take a low shot out. The line drive approach bounces before the elevated green, rolls it up within seven feet of the pin, right between a pair of bunkers that guard the front. The ball was perhaps out of sight, the two exchange words and both smile when they get to the green. Gandon shrugs and smiles. He drains the putt for his second birdie and to get another stroke back. He's still tied for third and three back as Oklahoma's Hirschman birdies to begin his round.
In Jeremy's Words: "I had trees in my way so I had to keep the shot low, I had like 120 yards in and played with my pitching wedge. I wanted to land on the green, try and cut it and come back with the slope, but I kind of hit it thin and just missed the bunker to the right of it and somehow spun it onto the green. I told him that wasn't really what I wanted to do, that's why we laughed I guess, but that was a good miss, too. It wasn't what I wanted to do but it worked out pretty well."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:The longest par-4 on the course requires both length and accuracy off the tee. The drive must carry a gentle slope 245 yards off the tee to provide a good view of the green. A long- to middle-iron will be necessary to reach the small well-bunkered green. A shorter drive will provide a blind shot to the green.
How Gandon Played It: Another good drive, hits on the left side of the fairway but close to middle. This round has a far-left pin placement, and the approach shot lands on back right of green. Maybe a 45-footer for birdie try, not enough speed on the first putt, but knocks within four feet. Hits an easy putt for par. Remains tied for third, two strokes back of the lead. The group ahead, which includes teammate Roland Massimino, is still waiting at the tee box for No. 17. The pair get to talk a little bit and appear in good spirits, pointing and laughing, before the previous group finishes and Massimino tees off.
In Jeremy's Words: "That was probably the hardest hole on the course, a very tight tee shot so it was important to hit the fairway. That was playing up-tee the last round and I hit five iron my second shot, kind of mis-hit it to the right but still on the green, made two-putts and onto the next one."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:The course's shortest par-4, this dogleg right is a real teaser. A pushed tee shot into the trees (and a creek) will mean real trouble. Most players will endeavor to place the tee shot on the left side of the fairway with a wood or long-iron. An accurate short-iron second shot is needed to reach the shallow, two-level, elevated green with some mean pin positions. This is one of the premier short, par-4 holes in all of golf. Gandon and Massimino had a minute
to catch up while waiting to tee
off on 17. How Gandon Played It: Gandon goes straight for the green on the short par-4, and the shot direction is good, but it bounces through, and lands about 15 yards behind green with back pin placement. Massimino was just here on his third shot and overshot the hole to the other side from here. Gandon hits a low liner again, hits the incline in front and rolls up onto green, will have about a six-foot putt for birdie. He sinks it, and produces a small fist pump. Tied for third still, three strokes back as Hirschman birdies again – Gandon doesn't know and isn't scoreboard watching, but it feels like he's building some positive momentum.
In Jeremy's Words: "I didn't know if I would hit three wood or driver on the tee, because that was playing up-tee and like 300 yards to the pin. I tried to hit a smooth driver and hopefully stay on the green but I hit it pretty good actually and it went over the green and I had a really tough chip from there. The pin location was just before the slope, so I had to do something rolling on the slope and try to stop it from there. I made the putt and that was a good birdie to come back under par."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:A truly great finishing hole, this dogleg right requires a drive to a plateau on the left side of the fairway 200 yards from the elevated green. A long-iron or fairway-wood second shot must carry to the green. The severely sloping green from back to front will cause many three-putts. It is the most difficult par on the golf course.
How Gandon Played It: Tee shot on a long par four goes into a little valley. He hits his approach over the bunker, maybe on the green but tough to see from this vantage point. There's a small group gathered around the hole as this is one of the main arteries, a shared plateau below the clubhouse shared by the ninth and 18th greens, with No. 1 and No. 10 tee boxes flanking either side up another level of elevation. There's no reaction from the spattering of people or indication that Gandon had just landed within four feet of the pin, just behind the hole. He capitalizes on another incredible shot and sinks the putt for birdie, his fourth in the last six holes, just one of four birdies made on this hole during Wednesday's round. He moves into second, and is one shot off the lead at the turn, right where he started the day.
In Jeremy's Words: "That hole was playing as one of the hardest with the pin location just behind the right bunker. On my second shot I wanted to play the center of the green and I was kind of on a slope left to right, so I knew the ball would eventually fade to the right. I hit a perfect shot, landed right behind the bunker, finished to four feet and made another really, really good birdie here."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:An inspiring tee shot starts from an elevated tee to a slight dogleg left with the ideal tee shot position being in the left side of the fairway to avoid the fairway bunkers on the right. This tee position will allow an open second shot with a medium-to-long-iron to a green which slopes from front to back and is guarded by three traps.
How Gandon Played It: He drives to the far left side of fairway and is on the green in two. However the pin is placed in the back right and he's just on the front. A 50-foot try gets close. Knocks the next in for par but not before the ball tickles the rim of the cup a little before falling. Another refresh of the scoreboard reveals that he's now tied for lead, with Hirschman at even-par through eight holes.
In Jeremy's Words: "On the back nine my ball striking wasn't as good as it was on the front; it was kind of a grind on the back nine. I hit my driver on the left, hit the tree I think and came back on the fairway. I had kind of a hard shot with a back pin location and the wind going left to right – I hit a great shot, just short on the green. I had a tough putt, maybe 50 feet, then made a four footer – almost missed the hole at the end but caught it somehow."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:This is perhaps the most demanding driving hole on the golf course with a 225-yard carry over the bunkers and a winding creek that turns and parallels the fairway. A long-iron second shot is required to reach this well-bunkered green. Gandon chipped on to leave himself
a little less than six feet for the putt.How Gandon Played It: Yet another drive right down the middle of the fairway, been pretty consistent with most of his drives. He stops near his ball to eat a little of a granola bar while Sharpsteen hits. Next shot is hooked a bit, perhaps some wind pushed it, Gandon bends his knees hoping for good position but he's way left of the green, even wide of the bunker. He chips on, and makes a 5-6 foot putt for another par. This hole played the hardest of any on Wednesday with just one birdie from the entire field and almost an equal amount of pars (24) as bogey or higher (25).
In Jeremy's Words: "This was a really hard hole too, playing into the wind, very long. I hit a four iron on my second shot, same kind of pull-draw left of the bunker. The pin location was just right of the bunker. It was not a hard chip, but not an easy chip, a lob shot. I had a good chip and hit it close for a par."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:A sharp dogleg left requires a long tee shot in the right center of the fairway. Bunkering and pin positions will demand skillful short-iron second shots on this very deceiving hole.
How Gandon Played It: Drives into next fairway off the right side, will have to hit through a tree row…oof. He punches through, back to correct fairway and will have nice approach. Boom, knocks it within eight feet, would seemingly be a huge par. Narrowly missed the first put, but drains it for a bogey, not terrible. That hole will drop him into second, one shot behind Hirschman, again a hole or two back.
In Jeremy's Words: "The day before, I made double bogey. I was on the left and hit it in the hazard. I don't know if I was maybe thinking about that, so I hit my driver on the right, hit the tree and went in the other fairway. I had to lay-up on the good fairway and then hit a really good wedge shot, but it didn't spin back as far as I was hoping. I hit a good putt too, it just didn't drop – that was a good bogey, I'll take it.
"The weather conditions were playing so hard that I couldn't waste time beating myself and trying to play perfectly. It was just kind of natural that I knew I'd miss a shot eventually so I just moved on and hoping I hit the next one better."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:This picturesque short par-4 features a rolling fairway leading to the heavily bunkered, elevated green. The absence of level lies makes for difficult second shots. The severe back-to-front sloping green will prevent many aggressive birdie putts.
How Gandon Played It: In the middle of the fairway with his drive, strokes a great approach within four feet, and sinks the birdie putt to erase the damage of the previous hole. Nice bounce back moves Gandon to the top of the leaderboard by a stroke with five holes to play.
In Jeremy's Words: "That was a short par-4, pretty easy. I made a birdie the first round, I think. It was a good bounce back after making bogey, I made birdie right after. It was a nice wedge shot again and I made a five footer – I didn't really know the standings, so I just moved on to the next one."
Making moves. Gandon erased bogey on three with this approach and putt from four to climb into the top spot on the leaderboard with five to play at Big 12 Championship. ?????#kstatemgolf#big12golfpic.twitter.com/OsvviAMDm6
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:This par-5 doglegs slightly to the left. It is the longest and one of the toughest holes on the course. Due to the fairway bunkers, a narrow landing area on the tee shot will cause problems, but the hole does present a birdie opportunity to the straight hitter. There are plenty of trees and heavy rough awaiting the errant shot. Many players will play an iron second shot to avoid trouble both left and right and then a short-iron third shot to the well-bunkered undulating green.
How Gandon Played It: Another booming drive right down the middle. Next shot also in good position in the middle of the fairway, just under 180 yards out. He didn't like his approach shot, can tell right away, lands in left bunker on yet another front green tee placement. He hits out and to the front of green, and has maybe 16 feet for par. He drains it, and celebrates with the most emotion he's show all day – first an emphatic fist pump and shouts something inaudible under his breath. Now he's got a two-shot lead with four holes to play. The temperatures have dropped and looking at historical weather data it was only about five degrees, but noticeably cooler as the rain, which has been off-and-on all day, picks up a little.
In Jeremy's Words: "This hole was playing very long, the wind kind of picked up at that time and I was playing into the wind. I hit my drive on the fairway. I kind of laid up with a three-iron on the fairway again, but again (the next shot) I pulled – I hit a six iron – into the bunker. I had a tough bunker shot from there, hit it behind the green, just on the fringe from behind the green, 16-feet and made it. I really wanted to make that one. I took my time on it. Since I was long, I saw the line on my bunker shot so I had a pretty good idea of what the ball was going to do. I was just trying to get a good stroke on it and I did. I knew that was a big time putt here."
Gandon hits out of the bunker and saves par, the first of back-to-back sand saves.
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:Although this is a short par-3, shifting winds cause problems with club selections. A creek on the left side of the green will penalize hooked tee shots, and out of bounds is close behind the green. The fast green is also heavily trapped in front. The ideal tee shot is short of the pin for an uphill putt.
How Gandon Played It: He's into the sand again out of the tee box on No. 6, but he hits it close out of the bunker and could have another gritty par. Sinks a five-foot putt to maintain lead with three holes to play, still with a two-stroke advantage. Back-to-back sand saves, feels like a pretty big pair of holes, grinding to the finish line.
In Jeremy's Words: "Another hard hole, playing back-tee, wind left to right. I hit a six iron. I was playing the middle of the green actually but it kind of faded too much, short into the bunker. I thought the bunker shot would be harder, but when I got to my ball it wasn't – I had upslope and had more room than I thought. I hit a really good shot from there, within two feet and made par. Back-to-back sand saves, that was pretty good."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:A blind tee shot to the crest of a hill reveals a narrow, beautifully situated green bunkered front and left. A steep bank guards the right posing a difficult uphill pitch from heavy rough. Most players will drive with a 3-wood to the top of the hill in the left center of the fairway and use a short-iron second shot to the bunkered green. Certain pin positions will make this hole difficult.
How Gandon Played It: Drives to left side of fairway off the tee, has to run up the hill and look, will be blind shot over hill and wrapped around two large trees. Next shot hits right in the middle of the fairway, but still has a ways to go. Sticks approach to the green within three feet and he knocks in the putt for another par. Still two up with just two holes to go.
In Jeremy's Words: "That's a short par-4 playing down wind, so I hit a four iron on the tee. I kind of clipped a tree, kind of pulled it and hit the first tree and it went down very short. I had a tree in front of me, so I had to go over it. Hit a pitching wedge over it, laid up 55 yards in. Hit a wedge shot again within four feet and made the putt. Another good par, that was three good pars in a row. I saw a Big 12 photographer at that time, so I knew something was going on."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:No. 8 is a very demanding par-3 with some tough pin placements. Long-irons or possibly a 3-wood will be used here, but it is better to be short than over the embankment at the back and into the creek. Very few birdies and many bogies will be made on this hole.
How Gandon Played It: Long par three – rated out as the second toughest hole of the day – and he's right on line out of the tee box but he's well-short of the green, perhaps 30 yards to go or so before the front. Next shot lands him on the green but he's still got a long putt for par, maybe 16 feet downhill. He rolls it past, now with an eight footer…misses. Taps in for double, added two strokes and is tied for first. Just two birdies on this hole all day, Gandon was one of 28 players with bogey or higher, including four players with double. Texas contingent, which has been sizeable and present all day while playing with top-ranked OSU, is on the next fairway. Presumably, it's Ghim, but it could be OSU's Kristoffer Ventura who is also at the top of the leaderboard now.
In Jeremy's Words: "I didn't know where I was standing at until the last hole. I knew being one under in these conditions, I was sitting pretty good, but I wasn't really sure. I didn't really want to know because I was playing good that way. Usually I want to know, but this time I didn't think that was necessary, especially in those conditions. As I mentioned, you really need to focus on every shot instead of anything else.
"That was a long par-3, playing with the wind left to right. I hit a three iron, didn't hit it solidly at all and came up 30 yards short with a really hard chip to do after that. I did a decent chip, a little bit long, probably 12 feet long. I had a downhill putt that I really tried to make, maybe a little bit too much and it went by another 10 feet. That was kind of misjudged. It was playing very downhill and I guess the last couple of putts I had were pretty flat or going uphill – just a miss, not a bad stroke on my part, but a misreading I would say. Made a three-putt, made a double. At that time I asked Coach Robbins where I was standing at because Doug Ghim from Texas was on the tee next to me and I saw him kind of watch me doing that. I wanted to know what score I would need to make on nine to eventually win the tournament.
"I was obviously kind of upset, more about the fact that I made three-putt because from 12 feet you can avoid making a three-putt. At that point I was thinking more about the hole coming up, rather than what I just did. Even after, I wasn't that upset about it. I hit good shots, it wasn't like I made a bad decision or made a dumb choice, just a bad shot at a bad time."
Hole Description from SouthernHillsCC.com:A dogleg right with a fairway bunker guarding the corner requires a well-positioned tee shot. The prevailing wind and an elevated green make this hole play longer than its yardage. A severe slope from the back to the front of the green makes this one of the most difficult greens to putt.
How Gandon Played It: Tough drive goes into the tree line off left side of the fairway. Play is halted a little as Gandon and Robbins try to get attention of a pair of camera men shooting the action on 18 as Texas and Oklahoma State close their round. Gandon hits a low liner through the back of the green up the hill, maybe 15-20 yards behind hole, just below where his teammates and a sizeable crowd are watching the finishes on both greens, which again share the plateau below. It was Ghim on the next fairway and he's in the sand on No. 18, just 50 yards away or so away from Gandon while Hirschman remains tied several holes back. Gandon chips on, and will have a 12-footer for par. Ghim hits out of the bunker and he's got an even shorter five foot try for par. Gandon misses, finishes with a bogey. Ghim misses, also finishes with a bogey and the pair suddenly find themselves tied for second with Ventura.
In Jeremy's Words: "I asked Coach Robbins what I would need on the hole and he said I was tied for the lead. I knew I would need either par or birdie. I pulled out the driver, kind of hooked it into the trees. The trees were on the line so I had to hit a low shot, just over the bunker – that was a really hard shot from there, I knew that unless it was an unreal shot, I couldn't chip the ball onto the green. I hit a pretty good shot from there, just behind the green, rolled down in the rough behind the green. The pin location was pretty hard again here. I had a pretty tough chip that I could have done better, but had a pretty decent chip to leave me a putt for par, 12 feet, which is what I wanted to do – hit a shot and have a putt for par. It would've been really easy to screw up and either stay short or go behind the green, just wanted to leave a good opportunity for par. I didn't make it.
"I didn't know for sure I was tied with (Ghim), Coach just told me I was tied for the lead, but I kind of figured. I was putting first and I wanted to make it to put a little bit of pressure on. I didn't make it, kind of misread it again, kept it short and low. Thankfully he missed it too."
For the next 30 minutes the players waited for Hirschman to finish. Gandon went to the clubhouse to dry his clubs and gear, before starting for the range to stay warm for a potential playoff should Hirschman falter. After hitting his second shot in the sand, Hirschman bogeyed No. 18 to close his round and the playoff never came as Big 12 Conference rules end the event with co-champions. For the first time since Graham Hunt was Big Seven Conference medalist in 1951, a Wildcat had a conference champion with Gandon sharing the Big 12 title with three others.
"I am very proud of Jeremy," head coach Grant Robbins said. "To claim a share of the individual title in a conference like the Big 12 is a huge accomplishment. He played some exceptional golf all week."
