Oklahoma high school golf: Collin Bond leads Community Christian to Class 2A title; Norman surges to 6A crown

Collin Bond stood in the fairway and lined up his shot as a steady breeze ruffled the flag at the 18th hole.

Golf carts were suddenly pulling up to the green like a flock of birds, but the Community Christian School junior didn’t let the growing crowd faze him. Instead, he focused on teammate Gage Tucker, whose position near the green helped Bond figure out how to angle his approach shot.

“Seeing him just gave me a sense of security and calmness,” Bond said.

The ball skipped onto the green. Then Bond made his putt for an eagle, putting the final touch on his state championship performance.

Bond, an Oklahoma State commit, fired a 197 through three rounds to win a Class 2A individual title at Lake Hefner Golf Club. He wrapped up his final round Tuesday with a 5-under 67, also leading Community Christian to its first boys golf team state championship.

Defending champion Latta placed second, and Tishomingo was third.

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Coach Jerry Stephens said Monday it was his goal for the Royals to stay under 300 in each of their three rounds, and they did. With a team score of 875, they ran away with the championship, winning by 26 strokes to cap an undefeated season.

“I’m so proud of them, it’s just unreal,” Stephens said. “They’ve worked so hard. They listen. They’re just so coachable, and it shows.”

Last year, when Community Christian competed in Class 3A, Bond was the only Royal to qualify for state. This year, with two juniors (Bond and Tucker) and three freshmen (Will Whorton, Carson Montgomery and Jackson Kennedy), the entire group advanced and won.

Whorton had a stellar state debut, tying for fourth with a 213. After breaking par for the first time in his career during the second round, he did it again in the third, improving his score to 68.

“It just opened up a new stage of golf for him and the team,” Bond said.

Bond posted his best score in the second round, logging a 63 to carry a six-stroke lead into Tuesday.

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The pressure was on for him to keep it.

He only increased his advantage, finishing the state tournament with a 12-stroke lead. Spencer Bullen of Nowata placed second with a 209, and Carter Ray of Walters followed with a 210.

The wind added an extra obstacle for everyone, but Bond navigated it, bouncing back from a few putts that didn’t go his way. And his driving game stayed strong. Teeing off on the 16th hole, he crushed the ball 382 yards, smoothly lofting it onto the green.

After he made the eagle on the 18th, he let himself pay attention to the crowd, pumping his fist as his family applauded from the nearby hill. His mother, Sue, doused him with water, and his father, James, could finally rest after jogging the course to deal with his nerves.

Their son was a state champion.

“I told myself, ‘If I just play how I usually play, I can bring home the state championship,’” Bond said. “There was a little bit of pressure coming to the first tee, but that’s like every tournament. I just tried to relax.”

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Class 6A: Norman emerges from middle of pack to win

The third round made the difference for Sebastian Salazar and Norman.

After the first day of the Class 6A tournament, several teams overshadowed the Tigers in the standings. Stillwater, Owasso and Norman North occupied the top three spots.

But it wasn’t too late for Norman to make a move.

With a 293 in the third round, the Tigers rocketed to the top of the leaderboard, claiming a state title Tuesday at Owasso’s Bailey Ranch Golf Club. Norman carded a 901 through three rounds.

Individual champion Salazar followed his team’s pattern. Salazar kept himself in the championship running Monday with rounds of 73 and 72, but he wasn’t at the top. Then he recorded a 70 to wrap up the tournament 1-under 215, securing the individual crown as the sole golfer to finish under par.

The top six golfers were within four strokes of one another. Parker Sands of Edmond North placed second with a 216. Josh Stuart of Norman North followed with a 217, and CJ Phillips of Edmond Santa Fe finished fourth with a 218. Defending champion Grant Gudgel of Stillwater shot a 219 to tie for fifth with Mason Haley of Enid.

Stillwater, the team that led at the end of the first day, finished six strokes behind Norman. Reigning champion Norman North finished third with a 912.

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Class 5A: Duncan goes back-to-back

For the second straight year, Duncan is the Class 5A boys golf state champion.

With a team featuring two of the top four individuals, Duncan placed first Tuesday at Territory Golf and Country Club, enjoying home-course advantage. Baylor Bostick of Duncan was the indiviudal runner-up with a 4-under 212, and teammate Caden Stevens shot a 228 to tie for third with Parker Payne of Noble.

Will Hennessee of Tulsa Bishop Kelley captured the individual crown with a 209.

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Class 4A: Cowan of OCS repeats as champion

Ryder Cowan is an individual state champion again, and this time, his team also won.

The Oklahoma Christian School senior carded a 10-under 203 to cap his high school career with another individual state title. In their Class 4A debut, the Saints won the team championship with an 879.

The dynamic duo of Cowan and Bryant Polhill continued to deliver for OCS. Polhill, a Kansas State signee, placed third with a 208. Neither he nor Cowan, an OU signee, had one round above 70.

"Ryder and Bryant had led this team for three years, so it was a special day all the way around," said OCS coach Tosh Hays.

Hays also praised sophomore Aaron Cummings and freshmen Ty Neatherlin and Braden Haines for their determination to send their senior teammates off as champions.

"(Cowan) and Bryant are gonna be super-tough to replace, but I'm excited about the young people that are coming up after them," Hays said.

The team standings were tight as defending champion Heritage Hall wrapped up the tournament just one stroke back from OCS. Heritage Hall freshman Ben Lathrop placed second with a 205.

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Class 3A: Johnson of CHA wins playoff to clinch individual title

After three rounds at the Class 3A state tournament, Christian Johnson wasn’t done playing golf.

With a 3-over 216, the Christian Heritage senior tied for first with Bliss Newton of Lone Grove, so they headed to a playoff. Johnson made a birdie on the third playoff hole to seal his individual state title.

“He exhibited great sportsmanship and great perseverance and bounced back from a 77 yesterday to a 66 today,” said coach Chad Borin.

Borin said Johnson, an Oral Roberts signee, had a strong start to the third round, shooting a 5-under 30 through the first nine holes. Fellow Christian Heritage senior Carter Nutt also finished near the top of the standings, recording a 217 to tie for third with Jace Chaney of Plainview.

With an 899, Plainview was the team champion. Plainview captured a colossal lead on the first day and never surrendered, winning by 49 strokes. Kingfisher placed second, and Lone Grove was third.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school boys golf 2023 OSSAA state tournament results