The inaugural Calusa Cup ended with a boom Tuesday.
Twice.
The Oklahoma men’s golf team pulled away for the title at Calusa Pines Golf Club in Naples, and then the Sooners — Boomer Sooner is their rallying cry — got to set off the club’s booming cannon to celebrate.
“Calusa Pines is just a phenomenal golf course, and for us to be able to come out here and win, you really have to manage your golf ball and do some great things on the putting surface,” Oklahoma coach Ryan Hybl said. “Our guys just really did a great job all week long. From start to finish, we just kept hanging, kept hanging. We played a nice last two rounds, which is always kind of fun finishing that way.”
Oklahoma, ranked No. 2 in the country by Golfstat, shot a final-round 282 for a three-day total of 859 and an eight-stroke victory over No. 41 Georgia Tech. No. 1 Florida State finished third, a stroke behind the Yellow Jackets at 868. Florida and Texas tied for fourth in the nine-team tournament at 875.
“The course was incredible,” said Oklahoma’s Quade Cummins, who tied for ninth — one of three Sooners to finish in the top 10. “We don’t get conditions like this in Oklahoma. Just being able to come here with a great field, being able to compete against the top teams in the country, it’s always fun to be able to win tournaments.”
One Seminole did walk away with something.
Senior John Pak, playing his final regular-season tournament, shot a 5-under-par 67 on the nationally ranked layout and won medalist honors by a stroke with a 5-under 211 total, one better than the Sooners’ Logan McAllister. It was his ninth career victory, tying the school record.
“This was a pretty big week for me, it’s my final regular-season event,” Pak said. “I was always one short of the FSU record at eight, and this just matched it. It means everything because Florida State’s the place where I call home and it’s so important to me.
“I just stayed really patient. I didn’t attack the pins I didn’t need to. I played on the fast side of the green, and then when I had the opportunities I hit a good wedge shot and converted, made some good putts.”
Christo Lamprecht of Georgia Tech and Pierceson Coody of Texas tied for third at 213. Coody is a grandson of former PGA Tour player and 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody.
Oklahoma’s Jonathan Brightwell tied for fifth at 215 along with first-round leader Joe Pagdin of Florida, Florida State’s Brett Roberts, and Iowa’s Alex Schaake, who matched Pak’s 67.
Neither Naples connection — Florida’s Ryan Hart or Florida State’s James Tureskis — played for their respective teams.
“A disappointing week for us, but it was a great tournament, phenomenal golf course, and really challenging greens for these guys,” Gators coach J.C. Deacon said. “It should be great preparation for us going forward. We didn’t make enough birdies this week, so we’ve got to be a little bit better.”
Iowa hosted the tournament, and head coach Tyler Stith thanked Calusa Pines owner Gary Chensoff, general manager Walt Kozlowsky, and head professional Mike Balliet and member Bradley Heinrichs, an Iowa alum, for helping the event come off after two years of planning.
“It’s really enjoyable sharing Calusa with the young individuals that are going to be leading our golf industry for the next 25 years,” Chensoff said. “It’s fun sharing.
“I would like it to continue, and yes, it will evolve into something very, very special.”
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