‘Sonny’s an angel’: Meet the 14-year-old battling cancer that helped inspire Texas on its way to winning the NCAA Championship

“He’s way tougher than we are but his toughness has definitely helped us out a lot.”

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – After injuries and illness plagued the last few seasons, the Texas men’s golf team thought it had learned the varying levels of adversity.

And then they met Sonny Santrelli, a 14-year-old member at UT Golf Club in Austin who’s battling Stage 4 Lymphoma.

“I just thought this was gonna be a normal golf vacation, but I guess I bring a lot of luck to them,” said Santrelli with his signature smile after he watched his boys in burnt orange win the 2022 NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship on Wednesday evening at Grayhawk Golf Club.

“Sonny’s an angel,” said head coach John Fields. “About eight weeks ago he just happened to sit down with (senior Pierceson Coody), and there’s a special little bond there now. Just absolutely incredible that that he would have come into our lives and then to be able to come here and share this with us.”

“Getting to know Sonny the last couple months has just been, as cliché as it is, eye opening,” Pierceson said. “He’s fighting so hard for things that a lot of us never imagined and I think he’s a big reason for why we saw such a big turnaround in our play and consistency. I feel like we were all fighting a little bit harder knowing that he cares so much about how hard we play and who we are. He’s meant the world to us.”

Struggling out the gates to start the spring with finishes of 8th and 10th, the Longhorns got back on track by finishing third at the Southern Highlands Collegiate and second at the N.I.T. before a pair of wins at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational and Western Intercollegiate to close out the regular season. Before winning the fourth national championship in program history, Texas finished in third at the Big 12 Championship and fourth at the NCAA Norman Regional.

At a practice round before regionals, Pierceson and TaylorMade got some wedges and a putter stamped with “Sonny Strong” and Philippians 4:13. The team has been wearing “Sonny Strong” bracelets and credit their new friend for the motivation.

“He’s way tougher than we are but his toughness has definitely helped us out a lot,” said junior Travis Vick.

“He’s unbelievable,” added senior Parker Coody. “To be able to play golf in this environment is unbelievable and to have him out here to be a part of it, I hope it means as much to him as it does to us because it truly does mean a lot for us.”

“It gave me chills seeing him hold that trophy,” said senior Cole Hammer. “It’s just as much his as it is ours. He deserves it all and hopefully this spurs him on to continue to fight and be an inspiration for all of us.”

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Ringler: All signs pointed to this year being the year for the Texas Longhorns men’s golf team

This might have been what was supposed to happen all along.

This might have been what was supposed to happen all along, Texas winning the national championship.

The Longhorns were there in 2019 losing to Stanford in the finals at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. One year later, a return trip to the finals, Texas beat just four teams in the 30-team field and left Scottsdale disappointed.

All signs pointed to this year leading to another run for the Longhorns. Ranked in the top five in the preseason polls, Texas had the personnel to win a championship. Three seniors – brothers Parker and Pierceson Coody and Cole Hammer – were as good as any senior class in college golf. All three were there as freshman in 2019 in that 3-2 loss to Stanford.

However, this year was not a conventional road to winning a national title.
A mid-season accident saw the Coody brothers each break their right arm while competing in a relay race after a workout in December. The injuries would result in Pierceson missing four events and Parker missing two.

Both would come back and ignite the Longhorns. Parker would come back in March and help the Longhorns to a third place at Southern Highlands and a second at Arizona’s N.I.T. Then with Pierceson back in the starting five, Texas would lap the field at the Haskins Award Invitational in early April.
When you win a tournament over a No. 2 ranked Oklahoma State team by 26 shots, you quickly realize the train is back on the track. The Longhorns would win the next week at the Western Intercollegiate and appeared ready for the postseason.

At the NCAA finals at Grayhawk, the course did its job this week in identifying the best. For the first time and maybe the last time we saw teams ranked Nos. 1-8 all advance to match play. From that point on, match play did what it does: block the top-ranked teams from victory.

Enter Texas.

By all means a top team in college golf, but arriving in Arizona a bit differently than the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt. The No. 6 ranked Longhorns would quietly find fourth place after 72 holes of stroke play.

The Longhorns would then defeat Oklahoma State in the opening round, knock off Vanderbilt in the semifinals and then beat the host school Arizona State in the final.

For the 12th time in the 13 years in NCAA match play era, the No. 1 seed did not win the championship in the men’s bracket.

But maybe, just maybe, match play did identify the best team. A team that could have the best team in college golf all season long. A team that found its groove at that right time and heads home as national champions.

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Trio of Texas seniors end college careers with 2022 NCAA Championship win over hosts Arizona State

The win is the fourth national title in program history for the Longhorns and the first since 2012.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – After starting their college careers as runners-up at the 2019 national championship, three years later the Texas trio of Cole Hammer and twin brothers Parker and Pierceson Coody are walking away with the trophy.

The Longhorns defeated hosts Arizona State 3-1-1 in the final match of the 2022 NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship on Wednesday at Grayhawk Golf Club for their fourth national title in program history and second in the match-play era (1971, 1972, 2012).

Parker Coody put the first point on the board with a runaway 6-and-5 win over James Leow, but the Sun Devils quickly responded with and 3-and-2 win from Mason Andersen over Hammer. Pierceson Coody joined his brother on the winning side of the matches after he took down Preston Summerhays, 2 and 1. Travis Vick put the decisive third point on the board with a 1-up win over Cameron Sisk.

Hammer and the Brothers Coody were key members of the 2019 team that lost to Stanford in the final match at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Following their defeat of Vanderbilt in the semifinals, Hammer said his fellow seniors were on a “comeback tour.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve been in this position, but at the same time, it really doesn’t feel like that long ago. I think we’re gonna draw on that experience,” said Hammer on Tuesday evening. “It’s fun having five guys that you trust so much out there because if for whatever reason you’re not playing well, guys have your back. It’s pretty fun to be on a team like that because it doesn’t come around all the time.”

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Texas to battle hosts Arizona State in must-see match play final at men’s 2022 NCAA Championship

It’s a senior-heavy final match at the men’s NCAA Championship on Wednesday.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After 72 holes of stroke play, 20 quarterfinal and 10 semifinal matches, the field at the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship is down to just two.

Host Arizona State, the No. 7 seed, was the first team to punch its ticket to Wednesday’s final match at Grayhawk Golf club, defeating defending champion Pepperdine in a convincing 4-1 fashion. The Sun Devils will face No. 4 Texas, who defeated top-seed Vanderbilt, 3-1-1.

Arizona State was led by Mason Andersen, who defeated Dylan Menante in extra holes to put the first point on the board. Next was David Puig, who defeated Joey Vrzich, 2 and 1. After losing a 5-up lead on the back nine, Preston Summerhays put the decisive third point on the board just moments later, defeating Joe Highsmith, 2 up, with a pair of birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.

“Every match is so tough. These are great teams and our guys have played amazing,” said Arizona State head coach Matt Thurmond. “You see what Mason did both matches, what Preston did, (Cameron Sisk) was starting to take control of his match, and Puig, we rode Puig pretty hard at lunch. He’s hadn’t won a match for us yet and it was time. It was pretty cool that he won that big match in the middle.”

“Once you get to college, that’s basically all you work for. Obviously you have big tournaments throughout the season, but it all leads up to this,” Summerhays said of the spot his Sun Devils are in. “We’ve put ourselves in a position to where we can go out and win the whole thing, which is what we try to do every year. It’s a great opportunity that we have tomorrow.”

The Sun Devils are looking to win the third championship in program history after claiming victory in 1990 and 1996, while Texas is looking for No. 4 after previous wins in 1971, 1972 and 2012. Seniors Parker and Pierceson Coody and Cole Hammer were the core of the Longhorns lineup in 2019 when they lost to Stanford in the title match. The Texas trio will get another shot at glory in their final time rocking the burnt orange.

“Full circle from three years ago, that was a tough loss to Stanford but these guys have come a long way,” said Hammer. “We’ve been through a lot with Coody’s breaking their arms, really not having a set lineup and this postseason has been different. The guys have been so focused and we’ve all had our eyes on the prize, as cliché as it is, but it’s pretty fun to be a senior and have an opportunity like this tomorrow.”

Hammer earned the first point for the Longhorns and ran away to a 4-and-3 win over individual national champion Gordon Sargent with a dominant back nine performance. Pierceson Coody (3 and 2 over Cole Sherwood) and Travis Vick (4 and 3 over Reid Davenport) earned the next two points within seconds of each other to advance Texas to Wednesday’s final.

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual

No. 4 Texas vs. No. 7 Arizona State

  • 4:35 p.m. ET – Cole Hammer vs. Mason Andersen
  • 4:45 p.m. ET – Parker Coody vs. James Leow
  • 4:55 p.m. ET – Pierceson Coody vs. Preston Summerhays
  • 5:05 p.m. ET – Mason Nome vs. David Puig
  • 5:15 p.m. ET – Travis Vick vs. Cameron Sisk

Texas

Appearances: 7
NCAA Match Play Record: 9-5
Golfweek Rank: 6th

Three-time winner this season at the Big 12 Match Play, Augusta Haskins Award Invitational and Western Intercollegiate before finishing third at the Big 12 Championship and earning the last spot from the NCAA Norman Regional.

Arizona State

Appearances: 4
NCAA Match Play Record: 3-3
Golfweek Rank: 5th

Won three times at the Isleworth Collegiate, Southwestern Invitational and NCAA Stockton Regional with 11 total top-five finishes on the season.

How to watch

Golf Channel

Wednesday, June 1

  • 5-9 p.m. Team Match Play National Championship (Live)

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Photos: Best shots from match play at the NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship

Check out the best shots of the week from the national championship.

A total of 30 teams made their way to the desert with the common goal of winning a national title.

Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, played host to the 2022 NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship for the second consecutive year following the women’s championship the week prior.

Just 17 of the top 25 teams in the nation advanced to the NCAA Championship, but by the time the field was cut to the top eight for match play, the advancing teams were all inside the top eight in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. It’s the first time the championship bracket has been filled with the top-eight ranked teams, and it set up for some compelling matches.

Check out the best photos of the men’s 2022 NCAA Championship.

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual

PGA Tour University’s second class sends 15 college players on path to professional golf

Fifteen college golfers earned status on various professional tours as part of the PGA Tour University Class of 2022.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — School’s out for the seniors. Next stop: professional golf.

The second class of PGA Tour University graduates was finalized following the completion of stroke play at the 2022 NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club, with the top 15 players in the standings earning status on varying professional tours.

The top-five players in the PGA Tour University standings receive Korn Ferry Tour membership and will be exempt into all open, full-field events beginning with the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX (June 9-12). The players are also exempt into the final stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.

The following players who finished 6-15 in the standings receive PGA Tour Canada status beginning with the ATB Classic presented by Volvo Edmonton (June 16-19) through the end of the regular season. The players are also exempt into the second stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.

The program is designed to streamline the process for college players to advance to the professional level while also rewarding those who honor their college commitments. Players must play on the NCAA Division I level and complete a minimum of four years in college to be eligible for PGA Tour University.

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual

NCAA Championship: Match play field, pairings set for 2022 men’s quarterfinals

Check out who’s teeing it up in match play for a shot at the national title.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The men’s individual national champion has been crowned, which means one thing: it’s time for match play.

Vanderbilt freshman Gordon Sargent won the individual national title at the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship on Monday evening, defeating Parker Coody (Texas), Ryan Burnett (North Carolina) and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra (Oklahoma State) in a four-way playoff with a birdie on the 18th hole.

Three teams finished tied atop the team leaderboard at 14 over, with Vanderbilt winning the tie breaker over Oklahoma and North Carolina to earn the No. 1 seed and a match with No. 8 Texas Tech. No. 2 Oklahoma will square off against No. 7 Arizona State, with No. 3 North Carolina facing No. 6 Pepperdine. Big 12 rivals Texas and Oklahoma State will duke it out in the 4 vs. 5 matchup.

With the quarterfinals set to begin on Tuesday morning and the semifinals to follow, here’s a breakdown of the teams competing for the national championship (all times Eastern).

Scores: Team | Individual
Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual

Vanderbilt freshman Gordon Sargent wins individual title at 2022 NCAA Championship

Sargent is the ninth freshman to win the individual title, the first to do so since 2007.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Twelve players were within four shots of the leaders as they made the turn in the final round of stroke play at the 2022 NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship on Monday, setting up for a frantic finish in the desert.

Five players were tied for the lead at even par, with two players in the clubhouse – Parker Coody (Texas) and Ryan Burnett (North Carolina) – and the final group of Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra (Oklahoma State), Chris Gotterup (Oklahoma) and Gordon Sargent (Vanderbilt) on the 18th tee. Chacarra and Sargent each made par to advance to a playoff with Coody and Burnett, with Gotterup making bogey to fall back into a tie for fifth at 1 over with Arizona State’s Cameron Sisk, Pepperdine’s William Mouw and North Carolina’s David Ford.

Sargent, a freshman from Birmingham, Alabama, made birdie on the first playoff hole to claim medalist honors and become the ninth freshman to win the individual national title since USC’s Jamie Lovemark in 2007. Sargent is the second freshman in the span of a week to claim medalist honors at the NCAAs, following Rose Zhang of Stanford.

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Meet the 15 teams to make the first cut at the 2022 NCAA Championship

Oklahoma leads the way as the only team under par.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After 54 holes of stroke play the field of 30 teams at the 2022 NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship is now down to 15 following the first cut on Sunday evening.

Oklahoma leads the way as the lone team under par at 1 under, four shots clear of in-state rivals Oklahoma State and six clear of third-place Vanderbilt. Seven of the teams to play in the morning wave on Sunday took advantage of the early conditions to solidify their spot inside the cut, leaving the rest of the field to duke it out for the final eight spots.

After Monday’s final round of stroke play an individual national champion will be crowned and the field will be cut to the top eight teams to set the bracket for match play. Meet the 15 teams competing for one of those coveted match play positions.

Scores: Team | Individual

Ringler: Despite the lofty scores, Grayhawk Golf Club is doing its job as the 2022 NCAA Championship host

Despite what anyone says, good, bad or neutral, the course and setup are providing a proper championship test.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — No, it’s not Rivera. It’s not the Honors Course and it’s not Inverness.

It is a golf course that is playing difficult, where par is a great score. A golf course where it is a must to play from the fairway. Sounds a lot like major championship golf, right?

And over the last two week’s Grayhawk Golf Club has been the host of college golf’s major championship. It’s firm and fast and some had even started to use the word “baked” by Friday.

There was skepticism when it was announced that college golf’s finale would be played here in the Arizona desert, and rightfully so. The NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship has only been played in the state Arizona once when Tucson National hosted in 1971. No professional major has been played here, either.

We often equate desert golf with red numbers and low scores. The lingering question leading up to last year’s championship was could this desert layout provide a proper championship test?

Scores: Team | Individual

We quickly found out that Grayhawk could provide the test and defense needed for us to call it championship-like. Only one team was under par last year and that was the local host Arizona State. Only eleven players broke par this time last year.

This year, scoring seems to be more difficult.

However, there are some unusual things we are seeing. Driver is not the popular club for most tee shots. And that’s ok some of the time, right? Or do we need more length to make it more like a championship?

At 7,289 yards and reduced from a par 72 to a par 70 the course could use more length. Maybe that length would put a driver in the players’ hands more often. But would that make it better?

One of the issues this week is that the course may have been too contrast from morning to afternoon, prompting one coach to call it “unreasonable.”

The morning wave average for the week? That’d be 288.27, well below the afternoon wave average of 296.73.

But did the course actually play different? Should the course play as different as we are seeing from morning to afternoon? Can anything even be done to prevent that?

The format is such that it rewards the teams for playing well in the first two rounds. Because it is a qualifier, the best scores play in the better morning wave for round three.

Two teams from third round afternoon wave – Georgia Tech and Florida – played its way into the top 15 and made the 54-hole cut. Overall three teams – Ole Miss, Auburn and Oregon – played their way into the top 15 from the worst-seeded wave, knocking out Wake Forest, Stanford and Texas A&M.

The oddest thing we are witnessing to this point is the fact that this year the ordering of teams is freakishly spot on.

Never have we even been close to seeing the top-ranked teams line up in the order they are. Nos. 1-7 in the Golfweek/Sagarin and Golfstat rankings are also the inside the top seven and nearly in order after 54 holes.

Championship golf can have different formulas. Here at Grayhawk it appears to be find the fairway and control your distance with your second shot. Sounds like that sort of equation can work at many championship venues.

Despite what anyone says, good, bad or neutral, the course and setup are doing its jobs.

“You can’t ask for anything more than that from a championship golf course,” said Oklahoma State coach Alan Bratton.

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