OU’s Jaxson Dowell holds off teammate Clark Van Gaalen for first individual title
MAUI, Hawai‘i – In golf, like racing, there tend to be horses for courses. The No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners certainly fit the bill. Building upon their five-shot lead after the second round, Oklahoma became the first team to win three consecutive Kā‘anapali Classics, as well as the program’s fifth title on Maui (2015, ’19, ’22, ’23, ‘24) since the event’s inception.
The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate their third consecutive Kā‘anapali Classic victory.
“A lot of birdies and a lot of fun were had in Hawai‘i,” remarked Oklahoma men’s golf coach, Ryan Hybl, an inductee into the 2024 Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. “We gave a few back, stubbing our toe down the stretch. So many of our guys collectively had a great week, which doesn’t happen that often. It was gratifying to get the job done. We head home happy, yet can’t wait to return.”
Oklahoma was anchored by three players who finished in the top 12: Jase Summy (3), a 2023-24 All-Big 12 selection who finished T8 last year at Kā‘anapali, junior Matthew Troutman (T12) and freshman, Asher Whitaker (T12).
No. 32 Colorado (-36) finished in solo second place after climbing three spots on Monday. Their 12-under final round was fueled by Dylan McDermott (3), Justin Biwer (8), Brandon Knight (14) and Parker Paxton (14).
The No. 52 Kansas Jayhawks placed third (-35), their second third-place finish this fall. No. 67 Indiana placed fourth (-34). No. 5 LSU (-33) rounded out the top five.
Kansas’ Gunnar Broin recovers from the hole nine greenside bunker on Royal Kā‘anapali.
“Our team performance featured highs and lows, but our guys controlled their composure well. That was our difference maker,” said Colorado associate head coach, Derek Tolan. “After a great fall of playing at a high level, we feel confident and excited heading into the offseason. There are some ‘easy fixes’ that can be implemented to continue elevating our team.”
With four holes to play, four individuals were tied for the lead. It all came down to a birdie on the final hole. Oklahoma redshirt senior Jaxson Dowell held onto his two-shot lead after Sunday, carding one eagle, seven birdies and one bogey over his final 18 holes to win the Kā‘anapali Classic individual title. Dowell becomes the third individual medalist from Oklahoma to win the Kā‘anapali Classic (Luke Kluver; 2023 and Quade Cummins; 2019) and the eighth tournament champion to post a sub-200 score following his three-day total of 196 (-17).
Oklahoma’s Jaxson Dowell relishes in his first collegiate win.
“Winning is supposed to be hard. It certainly was today. I was fortunate to make key putts down the stretch in a great battle with my teammate, Clark, that came down to the last hole,” remarked a visibly happy Jaxson Dowell. “I wasn’t even supposed to be here until someone sadly got injured. To play so well and cap it off with a win in Hawai‘i is a memory that I’ll cherish forever.”
Dowell’s opening round was the best round of his college career, a career-low 63. The 2023-24 Academic All-Big 12 First Team member maintained his lead to claim his first collegiate win.
Finishing in solo second place was Oklahoma’s Clark Van Gaalen. The 6’4” freshman finished at 16-under to earn his first career top-10 finish.
Third place belonged to Colorado senior Dylan McDermott (-15).
“Dylan coming down the stretch was huge,” continued Colorado’s Tolan. “Oddly enough, we weren’t too concerned about him because he is such a consistent player in the clutch moments.”
Fourth place was tied between Liberty’s Ike Joy, who shot a career-low 65 yesterday, and Indiana junior Clay Merchent, the third Hoosier to ever be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Following Sunday’s round, the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warrior golf team held a clinic for keiki in the Maui Junior Golf Association and Lahaina Junior Golf Association. Attendees received swing lessons, learned about college recruiting and were able to talk with Hawai‘i’s student-athletes.
On Sunday, the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warrior men’s golf team held a clinic at Kā‘anapali for keiki in the Maui Junior Golf Association and Lahaina Junior Golf Association.
The 11th annual Kā‘anapali Classic will be contested from Nov. 1–3, 2025.
All team and individual scores can be found on SCOREBOARD.
Team Leaderboard
| Place | School | To Par | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Rd. 3 |
| 1 | Oklahoma | -42 | -20 | -11 | -11 |
| 2 | Colorado | -36 | -14 | -10 | -12 |
| 3 | Kansas | -35 | -15 | -11 | -9 |
| 4 | Indiana | -34 | -16 | -9 | -9 |
| 5 | LSU | -33 | -16 | -7 | -10 |
| T6 | TCU | -32 | -7 | -12 | -13 |
| T6 | Georgia | -32 | -9 | -13 | -10 |
| 8 | San Jose State | -27 | -10 | -6 | -11 |
| T9 | North Florida | -26 | -18 | -7 | -1 |
| T9 | Liberty | -26 | -9 | -7 | -10 |
| 11 | Louisiana Tech | -24 | -2 | -7 | -15 |
| 12 | East Tennessee State | -18 | -13 | -2 | -3 |
| 13 | Wyoming | -16 | +3 | -9 | -10 |
| 14 | Sacramento State | -15 | -8 | -5 | -2 |
| 15 | Connecticut | -9 | E | -11 | +2 |
| 16 | UC Irvine | -7 | +2 | E | -9 |
| 17 | Gonzaga | -5 | -1 | +2 | -6 |
| 18 | Hawai‘i | +1 | +3 | +7 | -9 |
| 19 | Cal State Northridge | +2 | +2 | -3 | +3 |
| 20 | Southern Illinois | +3 | +4 | +1 | -2 |
| 21 | Boise State | +12 | +2 | +3 | +7 |
Top Individuals
| Place | Player | School | To Par | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Rd. 3 |
| 1 | *Jaxon Dowell | Oklahoma | -17 | -8 | -5 | -4 |
| 2 | *Clark Van Gaalen | Oklahoma | -16 | -4 | -5 | -7 |
| 3 | Dylan McDermott | Colorado | -15 | -4 | -4 | -7 |
| T4 | Ike Joy | Liberty | -14 | -3 | -6 | -5 |
| T4 | Clay Merchant | Indiana | -14 | -4 | -6 | -4 |
| 6 | Jase Summy | Oklahoma | -13 | -6 | -4 | -3 |
| 7 | Jack Beauchamp | TCU | -12 | -3 | -7 | -2 |
| T8 | Kristian Bressum | East Tennessee State | -11 | -6 | -5 | E |
| T8 | Jay Mendell | LSU | -11 | -2 | -3 | -6 |
| T8 | Gunnar Broin | Kansas | -11 | -2 | -5 | -4 |
| T8 | Justin Biwer | Colorado | -11 | -7 | E | -4 |
*Competing as Individual
About Kā’anapali Golf Courses
Built on 300 acres of land once home to Hawaiian royalty, Kā‘anapali Golf Courses present golfers with pristine conditions and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and West Maui Mountains.
Opened in 1962 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the par-71, 6,700-yard Royal Kā‘anapali Course features wide fairways and undulating greens which make it both distinctive and demanding. The tournament-tested layout played host to the Champions Tour Kā‘anapali Classic for 14 years, Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup and LPGA Kemper Open, welcoming Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Jan Stephenson, Betsy King and other legends.
Complementing the Royal Kā‘anapali Course is the modernized Kā‘anapali Kai Course, which hosted Golf Channel’s “Big Break Kā‘anapali” in 2008. Extensively renovated in 2005, the 6,400-yard, par-70 layout boasts an array of strategically placed bunkers, contoured fairways and resurfaced greens.
More information: www.kaanapaligolfcourses.com and 808-661-3691.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 900-plus locations in 45-plus states and 35-plus countries, including operational responsibility for 575-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com, TroonMagazine.com or connect with Troon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Troon Chronicles, Press Room, and via The Turn Podcast.
MEDIA CONTACT
Pate Clarson
pclarson@kaanapaligolfcourses.com
