CARLSBAD, Calif. – Preston Stout spent much of Monday chasing a national championship. By the end of the day, he was sitting and waiting.
The Oklahoma State junior missed the junior tournament when it coincided with a hunting trip, but held off a late onslaught from Alabama’s William Jennings on Monday at Omni La Costa to win the NCAA individual title. Stout finished with a 14-under 274 after rounds of 73-67-65-69, winning the title by one stroke.
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After shooting a bogey-free 7-under 65 on Sunday and leading by one heading into the final round, Stout appeared to be in control for most of the day, opening up a five-stroke advantage through 11 holes. For a man who had won two big amateur and collegiate tournaments in the past year by margins of seven or more, this championship seemed all but over. However, three bogeys by Stout on the back nine put Jennings back in position, turning it into a two-man race in the final stages.
“It was stressful,” Stout said. “Obviously I got off to a good start and felt really good with the putter. Then I missed some short putts in the middle of the back nine and had a bad three-putt on the 17th. I was stressed off the tee on the 18th.”
Stout’s birdie on the 18th hole, the final hole of stroke play, was the shot that ultimately clinched the victory.
“I’m glad we managed to push it that far,” Stout said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”
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But when Stout finished, the outcome remained uncertain. Jennings, who was competing individually for Alabama after the Tide failed to advance past regionals, continued his charge on the other side of the course. The Crimson Tide standout played the final 12 holes at 6 under, birdieing the par-3 eighth hole to tie Stout at 14 under.
The scenario heading into No. 9 was simple. A par took them into the playoffs, and a birdie made Jennings the University of Alabama’s first individual national champion, adding to his two NCAA team titles.
Instead, Jennings rolled his approach to the front of the green, missed the ups and downs, and came close to bogey, finishing with a 13-under 275.
Stout learned the news while warming up on the practice field and preparing for a possible playoff run.
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Shortly after, he became a national champion.
The victory was the Richardson, Texas, native’s fifth of the spring and eighth of his collegiate career. In any other season, Stout would have been named Player of the Year, but Auburn’s Jackson Koibun and his six wins this semester will likely earn him his second Hogan Award within days. Stout is also the 10th Oklahoma State golfer to win an NCAA individual championship since Matt Wolfe in 2019.
“Our program has a really deep history, and it would be great to be able to write my name in Oklahoma State history,” Stout said. “I’m proud of myself and I’m glad I did it.”
Stout had 21 birdies during the championship and went on to take the lead with a third-round 65 on Sunday for an eagle on the par-5 10th hole. After that, he never followed.
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“He was built for that moment,” Oklahoma State’s Alan Bratton said. “… Moments like this are the reason for practice, everyone on the field wants to be there, and he rose to the occasion.”
As the old saying goes, until the lion learns to write, every story will praise the hunter.
