SHAWNEE, Okla. – The 44th Oklahoma Golf Association Stroke Play Championship at Shawnee Country Club came down to the final hole, where John Wild of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, delivered in the clutch.
Entering the 36th and final hole tied for the lead, Wild reached the par-5 finishing hole in two and calmly rolled in a 7-foot eagle putt to secure the championship. The dramatic eagle gave Wild a two-shot victory and capped a closing round of 68, finishing at 9-under-par 135 for the championship.
Originally scheduled as a 54-hole championship, severe weather and heavy rainfall throughout the Shawnee area forced tournament officials to shorten the event to 36 holes. Thunderstorms moved through central Oklahoma late on June 21 and into June 22, bringing heavy rain and saturated conditions to the area. Additional storm chances remained throughout the first two days of the championship before conditions improved on Wednesday, allowing competitors to complete the shortened event.
Despite the weather challenges, Shawnee Country Club worked diligently to provide a championship-caliber test for the field.
Three players shared runner-up honors at 7-under-par 137. Grant Gudgel of Stillwater fired the low round of the championship with a second-round 66, while Ben Lathrop of Oklahoma City and Hudson Hobbs of Ardmore also finished two shots behind the eventual champion.
Benton Manly of Tulsa finished alone in fifth place at 6-under-par 138, while William Hennessee, Exequiel Rodriguez Barri, Will Whorton, C.J. Phillips and Will Livermore tied for sixth at 5-under-par 139.
Wild’s clutch eagle on the final green will be remembered as one of the most exciting finishes in recent championship history, turning a tightly contested battle into a memorable victory and earning him the title of 44th OGA Stroke Play Champion.