No. 13 Men’s Golf preview: Big 12 Championship - University of Texas Athletics (2024)

When: Monday, April 24 – Wednesday, April 26

Format: 36 holes of stroke play on Monday, 18 holes on Tuesday and Wednesday

Where: Prairie Dunes Country Club (Hutchinson, Kansas)

Course Info: Par-70; 6,947 yards

Television (Wednesday only): Big 12 Now/ESPN+ (Ryan Burr, play-by-play; Carl Paulson, analyst)

Live Scoring: https://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=26021

Texas at the Big 12 Championship: Texas has claimed a total of eight Big 12 Conference team titles since the league's inception prior to the 1996-97 season (2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017). Seven different Texas players have captured individual medalist honors at the Big 12 Championship, including David Gossett (1999), Jason Hartwick (2004), Matthew Rosenfeld (2006), Brandon Stone (2013), Scottie Scheffler (2015), Doug Ghim (2018) and Cole Hammer (2021). In program history, UT has registered a total of 47 all-time conference team championships and 40 all-time conference individual titles.

Team Rankings: Texas is No. 13 in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches poll (April 14). The Longhorns are No. 15 in the most recent GolfStat national rankings (April 17).

The Tourney Field: The 10-team field at the Big 12 Championship is seeded in the following order (with Bushnell/Golfweek Division I poll rankings in parentheses): No. 1 Texas Tech (No. 3), No. 2 Oklahoma (No. 12), No. 3 TEXAS (No. 13), No. 4 Oklahoma State (No. 22), No. 5 K-State (No. 23), No. 6 Baylor, No. 7 TCU, No. 8 Kansas, No. 9 Iowa State and No. 10 West Virginia. The Longhorns will be paired with Oklahoma State in Monday's first and second rounds and will begin first-round play on the 1st tee at 8:45 a.m. Central.

Last Time Out: Texas finished in a tie for sixth place at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational (April 14-15) at Papago Golf Course (Phoenix, Arizona). The Longhorns fired a 54-hole score of 4-under-par 848 (285-279-284). The 12-team field featured six teams in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches poll, including three of the top four squads in the nation. Travis Vick was the low Texas individual with an 11-place finish after a three-round total of 5-under-par 208 (68-70-70).

Solid Spring Campaign: Since the start of the spring semester, the Longhorns have played their best golf of the 2022-23 season. Texas opened its spring campaign with a team title and 13-stroke victory at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) in Westlake Village, Calif. The Longhorns followed that performance with a 4-1-1 match play victory against No. 11 Georgia Tech as part of the Big 12/ACC Showdown in Hawaii (Feb. 10) and added a runner-up finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) in Las Vegas along with a third-place team showing at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) in Palm City, Fla. During its last two events, Texas has earned a sixth-place finish at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) and a tie for sixth at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational (April 14-15).

Southwestern Invitational Champs: Texas earned a wire-to-wire victory at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at North Ranch Country Club (Westlake Village, Calif.). The Longhorns posted a three-round total of 14-under-par 850 (270-290-290) to win by 13 strokes over runner-up and tourney host No. 15 Pepperdine at 1-under-par 863, while No. 5 Arizona State was third at 4-over-par 868. Keaton Vo placed second individually at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70), just one stroke behind medalist Michael Brennan of Wake Forest at 9-under-par 207. Jacob Sosa, who posted a school-record 18-hole score of 11-under-par 61 in the opening round, finished in third place at 7-under-par 209 (61-74-74), and Christiaan Maas tied for fifth at 4-under-par 212 (68-70-74).

A Round for the Ages: Freshman Jacob Sosa began the spring season with a school-record 18-hole score of 11-under-par 61 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) at North Ranch Country Club. The 61 eclipsed the previous school record of 63 set by four players previously, including Gavin Hall (2016 Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate third round), Brandon Stone (2012 Carpet Capital Collegiate second round), David Gossett (2000 NCAA Championship first round) and Justin Leonard (1994 NCAA Championship third round). Sosa recorded three eagles and five birdies without a bogey during his round. His score of 61 also was a tournament and course record and the lowest 18-hole round ever played at North Ranch Country Club.

Match Play Win Against Georgia Tech: The Longhorns claimed a 4-1-1 victory against No. 11 Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) at Hapuna Golf Course (Kamuela, Hawaii). Texas and Georgia Tech were two of 20 teams who originally came to Hawaii to participate in the Amer Ari Invitational on Feb. 8-10, but the tourney was canceled due to high winds. Official match-play competitions were organized for Texas-Georgia Tech and Texas Tech-North Carolina. The Longhorns received individual match wins from Travis Vick, Christiaan Maas, Jacob Sosa and Tommy Morrison.

Defending National Champs: Texas claimed its fourth NCAA team title in program history last year with a dramatic 3-2 victory over tourney host Arizona State in the championship match (Scottsdale, Ariz.). The Longhorns have captured NCAA team championships in 1971, 1972, 2012 and 2022.

15 Straight: UT's streak of 15 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances is the longest current streak in NCAA Division I men's golf. Here's a look at the longest active NCAA Championship appearances entering the 2022-23 season.

Advancing to Match Play: Not only has Texas been a consistent force in advancing to the NCAA Championships, the Longhorns have produced solid results while at the national championship. In the last 10 opportunities (dating back to the 2012 NCAA Championships), UT has advanced to the Match Play quarterfinals stage (final eight teams) a total of SEVEN times. Texas is the only school to advance to Match Play at least SEVEN times in the last 10 opportunities (2020 tourney was canceled due to COVID-19).

The Fields Factor: Now in his 26th season as head coach at Texas, John Fields has guided the Longhorns to 20 NCAA Championship appearances in his 24 opportunities (no NCAA tourney in 2020 due to COVID-19). Under Fields' leadership, UT has posted 10 top-five finishes at the NCAA Championship, including NCAA team titles in 2012 and 2022 and runner-up showings in 2016 and 2019. Prior to his time at Texas, Fields led the University of New Mexico to nine NCAA Championship appearances in 10 seasons (1988-97). Fields was named Golfweek's Men's National Coach of the Year last season for the third time during his time in Austin (2012, 2016 and 2022). He also has claimed Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades nine times during his 25-year tenure at Texas (2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2022).

The Texas Lineup: UT will be represented by the following six players at the Big 12 Championship:

1. Christiaan Maas (Fr., 70.04 avg.)
2. Brian Stark (Gr., 71.20 avg.)
3. Travis Vick (Sr., 72.16 avg.)
4. Jacob Sosa (Fr., 71.71 avg.)
5. Mason Nome (Sr., 72.06 avg.)

Alternate) Keaton Vo (Fr., 72.45 avg.)

Inside the Texas Lineup

Christiaan Maas: Has competed in each of UT's first 11 events and boasts a team-best 70.04 stroke average … No. 15 in the most recent GolfStat national individual rankings (April 17) … No. 2 in the latest Palmer Cup rankings for the International team (April 20) … No. 22 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (April 19) … named to the 2023 Ben Hogan Award watch list (Jan. 27) and the 2023 Fred Haskins Award first spring watch list (Mar. 10) … member of the Golf RSA (South Africa) National squad … during his nine stroke-play tourney appearances, he has registered five top-10 and eight top-20 individual finishes … has shot par or better in 19 of his 25 stroke-play rounds this year, including 11 rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best individual runner-up finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 10-under-par 206 (66-69-71) … recorded his collegiate low 18-hole score of 6-under-par 66 in the opening round at the Southern Highlands (Feb. 26) … tied for third at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 3-4) with a 6-under-par 204 (70-67-67) … tied for fifth at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a 4-under-par 212 (68-70-74) … tied for eighth at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) at 6-under-par 210 (69-73-68) … tied for ninth at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) with a 6-under-par 207 (69-71-67) … posted a 2&1 win over Christo Lamprecht in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tied for 17th at the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship (Dec. 8-11) in Melalane, South Africa with a 9-under-par 279 (71-70-70-68) … played alongside Ernie Els in the opening two rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship … also made the cut and tied for 35th at the DP World Tour's Investec South African Open Championship (Dec. 1-4) in Johannesburg at 5-under-par 283 (69-65-72-77) … tallied a 3-2 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … finished 12th at The Stephens Cup (Oct. 10-12) at 4-under-par 212 (69-71-72) … in his collegiate debut, tied for 20th at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 16-18) at 4-over-par 214 (72-72-70) … competed for South Africa in the prestigious 2022 World Amateur Team Championship (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) in Paris … advanced to Match Play at the 2022 U.S. Amateur … tied for 11th in stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur … claimed a five-shot victory (65-70-67-68=270, -14) to win the prestigious Brabazon Trophy at Saunton Golf Club in England in May 2022 … posted six wins during the 2021 season, including the Cape Province Open and the South African Amateur Championship … 2020 and 2021 Silver Salver Champion.

Brian Stark: Has competed in each of UT's first six events this spring after enrolling at Texas prior to the spring semester and sports a 71.20 stroke average (second on the team) … graduate transfer who spent his previous three seasons at Oklahoma State … No. 53 in the most recent GolfStat national individual rankings (April 17) … No. 44 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (April 19) … No. 12 in the current PGA TOUR University class of 2023 rankings (April 12) … during his five stroke-play tourney appearances, he has registered two top-10 individual finishes … has shot par or better in nine of his 15 stroke-play rounds this spring, including five rounds in the 60s ... recorded his best finish as a Longhorn with a tie for fourth at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) at 9-under-par 204 (68-71-65) … his 6-under 65 in the final round at the Valspar Collegiate marked his low 18-hole score at Texas … tied for eighth at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) at 6-under-par 210 (71-70-69) … tied for 22nd at the Southern Highlands (Feb. 26-28) at 2-under-par 214 (72-68-74) … made his debut for the Longhorns at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) … earned third-team All-America honors as a junior in 2022 from both the GCAA and Golfweek … two-time GCAA All-America Scholar (as a sophom*ore and junior) … claimed All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors as a junior … tied for 15th at the 2022 NCAA Championship at 6-over-par 286 … had a season-best tie for third place at The Carmel Cup at 5-under-par 211 (73-70-68) in 2021-22 … also placed 13th at the Big 12 Championship and tied for seventh at the NCAA Columbus Regional in his junior year … first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection as a sophom*ore in 2020-21 … advanced to the quarterfinals of match play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur.

Travis Vick: Has competed in each of UT's first 11 events and sports a 72.16 stroke average … No. 19 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (April 19) … No. 10 in the current PGA TOUR University class of 2023 rankings (April 12) … named to the 2023 Ben Hogan Award watch list (Jan. 27) … has shot par or better in 14 of his 25 stroke-play rounds this year, including four rounds in the 60s ... posted a 1-up win over Ross Steelman in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tallied a 3-1-1 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … earned a 3&2 win against Texas Tech's Ludvig Aberg (current No. 1 in WAGR) at Big 12 Match Play … placed ninth at The Stephens Cup (Oct. 10-12) at 6-under-par 210 (69-72-69) … claimed a 1-up victory over Stanford's Michael Thorbjornsen (current No. 3 in WAGR) during the third-place match at The Stephens Cup … three-time All-American … low amateur at the 2022 U.S. Open (70-69-76-73=288, +8) … semifinalist at the 2022 Western Amateur … one of 12 men's players who competed for the American squad at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup (July 1-3 in Vandoeuvres, Switzerland) … earned second-team All-America honors during his junior season in 2022 (Golfweek, GCAA) … posted a team-best 70.84 stroke average and registered three top-five, six top-10 and nine top-20 individual finishes in 12 stroke-play events during the 2021-22 season … went 2-1 during the 2022 NCAA Match Play, including a 4&3 win over Reid Davenport (Vanderbilt) in the semifinals and registered the clinching 1-up victory against Arizona State's Cameron Sisk in the final … collegiate-best second-place individual finish at the 2022 NCAA Norman Regional (May 16-18) at 10-under-par 206 (67-67-72) … semifinalist at the 2021 U.S. Amateur … 2021 honorable mention All-American (Golfweek, GCAA) … 2020 honorable mention All-American (Golfweek).

Jacob Sosa: Has competed in eight of UT's first 11 events and boasts a 71.71 stroke average … No. 95 in the most recent GolfStat national individual rankings (April 17) … in his seven stroke-play tourney appearances, he has registered three top-20 individual finishes … has shot par or better in 10 of his 21 stroke-play rounds this year, including four rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best third-place individual finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 7-under-par 209 (61-74-74) … set a UT program record for low 18-hole score with an 11-under-par 61 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) … had three eagles, five birdies and no bogeys during that round … tied for 16th at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) at 3-under-par 213 (72-72-69) … posted a 1-up victory over Connor Howe in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tied for 19th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 3-under-par 213 (71-70-72) … led Austin Westlake High School to three consecutive Texas Class 6A state team titles (no tourney in 2020 due to COVID) … posted individual finishes of third, runner-up and tied for fifth during his three state championship tournaments … tabbed the No. 3 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 14 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022 … first-team Rolex Junior All-American in 2021 … member of the West Team at the 2021 Wyndham Cup … placed third at the 2020 Texas State Amateur and earned the win at the 2019 Texas State Junior Championship.

Mason Nome: Has competed in six of UT's first 11 events and sports a 72.06 stroke average … No. 96 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (April 19) … has shot par or better in eight of his 16 stroke-play rounds this year, including four rounds in the 60s ... claimed individual medalist honors (first of his collegiate career) at The Spring Indy at WinStar (April 11-12), an individual competition that included a field of 15 collegiate golfers … posted a 54-hole score of 8-under-par 208 (69-68-71) at The Spring Indy … recorded a 2&1 victory against Stanford's Barclay Brown during the third-place match at The Stephens Cup (Oct. 12) … 2022 PING All-Central Region team selection … posted a 72.05 stroke average and registered four top-10 and six top-20 individual finishes in 12 stroke-play events during the 2021-22 season … went 1-1-1 during the 2022 NCAA Match Play, including the clinching 2-up win over Jonas Baumgartner (Oklahoma State) in the quarterfinals … advanced to Match Play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur … two-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team selection (2021 and 2022) … 2020-21 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-American Scholar.

Keaton Vo: Has competed in 10 of UT's first 11 events and boasts a 72.45 stroke average … has shot par or better in eight of his 22 stroke-play rounds this year, including two rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best second-place individual finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70) … tallied a career-low 18-hole score of 5-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) … tied for fourth in the stroke-play portion of the East Lake Cup (Oct. 24) with a 2-under-par 70 … tied for 19th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 3-under-par 213 (74-70-69) … posted a 4-0-1 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … medalist at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur with a 36-hole score of 9-under-par 134 (69-65) … 2022 Texas Class 5A state individual champion and led Anderson High School to the team championship … tabbed the No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 7 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022 … three-time Rolex Junior All-American … member of the West Team at the 2020 Wyndham Cup … registered seven top-10 finishes on the AJGA Tour, including a tie for second at the 2021 Jackie Burke Invitational … won individual titles at the 2020 George Hannon Junior Invitational and the 2019 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Lake Oconee.