Oklahoma has two players in top six of individual competition
MAUI, Hawai‘i – Led by three Sooners in the top 11, No. 2 Oklahoma (-31) holds a five-shot lead over No. 52 Kansas (-26) after the second round of the tenth annual Kā‘anapali Classic. North Florida and No. 67 Indiana (-25) are tied for third. No. 32 Colorado (-24), No. 5 LSU (-23) and No. 26 Georgia (-22) round out the top seven in a stacked leaderboard.
An aerial of Royal Kā‘anapali from the second round of the 2024 Kā‘anapali Classic.
On Monday, the two-time defending champion Sooners will seek their third team title this fall after wins at TPC San Antonio (Valero Texas Collegiate) and Colonial Country Club (Ben Hogan Collegiate). Oklahoma was led by Jase Summy (T3; -10), Asher Whitaker (T6; -9) and Matthew Troutman (T11; -7).
Oklahoma’s Jase Summy closely eyes his chip shot on Royal Kā‘anapali.
The Kansas Jayhawks, winners of the 2021 Kā‘anapali Classic, were led by fifth-year player Gunner Broin. He shot 66 (-5), posting seven birdies and one double bogey on the fourth hole. Broin sits T11 going into the final round. Earlier this year, he qualified for the 2024 U.S. Open. Teammate Luke Honner aided the Jayhawks with a second-round 68 (-3).
“We annually play well at Kā‘anapali and relish competing against many of the best programs,” reflected seven-time ASUN Conference Men’s Golf Coach of the Year and North Florida Director of Golf, Scott Schroeder. “However, we had more bogeys today than we should have. In the absence of deep scoring, we need to clean up those mistakes to best position ourselves for a good run.”
Indiana was led by third-year player Clay Merchant, who enjoyed an eagle on the par five ninth hole at 485 yards. He is T3 both individually and as a team.
Colorado’s Dylan McDermott started the day hot, posting two eagles on his front nine. McDermott climbed to T9 after posting a 67 (-4) on the Royal Kā‘anapali. Teammate Hunter Swanson helped propel the Buffaloes into fifth place ahead of Monday’s final round.
Colorado’s Dylan McDermott watches his tee shot on the par 3 15th hole on Royal Kā‘anapali.
In the Individual competition, 17 players are within six shots of the lead. Oklahoma redshirt senior Jaxson Dowell (-13) holds a two-shot lead over East Tennessee State’s Kristian Bressum (-11).
Oklahoma’s Jaxon Dowell observes his putt on the sixth hole on Royal Kā‘anapali.
“I’ve gotten the ball in the hole with a good short game and solid putting,” noted Dowell. “Though my ball striking hasn’t been great, if I can clean that up and keep rolling the flat stick, I’d love to capitalize on the momentum built in Hawai‘i.”
Dowell later added, “When coach informed me that I was coming to Kā‘anapali to compete as an individual, his instructions were to build positive momentum that can be carried into the offseason. Playing so well here through two rounds has reinforced that my hard work is beginning to pay off.”
TCU’s Jack Beauchamp and Oklahoma’s Asher Whitaker each fired the low round of the day, a seven-under-par 64.
“My proximity to the hole was really good,” noted TCU junior Jack Beauchamp. “When I got out of position, I could consistently get up and down, saving me many strokes. My short game was clutch. I hope to carry over what I learned today into the final round.” Beauchamp, who made nine birdies and two birdies to climb 24 spots, added, “It doesn’t get better than being at Kā‘anapali. We couldn’t have picked a better place to conclude our fall season.”
Whitaker, a freshman at Oklahoma, moved up 32 spots to T6 with fellow freshman teammate Clark Van Gaalen.
The final round commences on Monday at 8:30 a.m. HST. Attendance is free for walking fans.
All team and individual scores can be found here: SCOREBOARD
Team Leaderboard
| Place | School | To Par | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 |
| 1 | Oklahoma | -31 | -20 | -11 |
| 2 | Kansas | -26 | -15 | -11 |
| T3 | North Florida | -25 | -18 | -7 |
| T3 | Indiana | -25 | -16 | -9 |
| 5 | Colorado | -24 | -14 | -10 |
| 6 | LSU | -23 | -16 | -7 |
| 7 | Georgia | -22 | -9 | -13 |
| 8 | TCU | -19 | -7 | -12 |
| T9 | San Jose State | -16 | -7 | -12 |
| T9 | Liberty | -16 | -9 | -7 |
| 11 | East Tennessee State | -15 | -13 | -2 |
| 12 | Sacramento State | -13 | -8 | -5 |
| 13 | Connecticut | -11 | E | -11 |
| 14 | Louisiana Tech | -9 | -2 | -7 |
| 15 | Wyoming | -6 | +3 | -9 |
| 16 | CSU Northridge | -1 | +2 | -3 |
| 17 | Gonzaga | E | -1 | +1 |
| 18 | UC Irvine | +2 | +2 | E |
| T19 | Boise State | +5 | +2 | +3 |
| T19 | Southern Illinois | +5 | +4 | +1 |
| 21 | Hawai‘i | +10 | +3 | +7 |
Top Individuals
| Place | Player | School | To Par | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 |
| 1 | *Jaxon Dowell | Oklahoma | -13 | -8 | -5 |
| 2 | Kristian Bressum | East Tennessee State | -11 | -6 | -5 |
| T3 | Jase Summy | Oklahoma | -10 | -6 | -4 |
| T3 | Clay Merchent | Indiana | -10 | -4 | -6 |
| T3 | Jack Beauchamp | TCU | -10 | -3 | -7 |
| T6 | *Clark Van Gaalen | Oklahoma | -9 | -4 | -5 |
| T6 | Ike Joy | Liberty | -9 | -3 | -6 |
| T6 | Asher Whitaker | Oklahoma | -9 | -2 | -7 |
| T9 | Filippo Serra | North Florida | -8 | -6 | -2 |
| T9 | Dylan McDermott | Colorado | -8 | -4 | -4 |
*Competing as Individual
TOURNAMENT INFO
Dates: November 2 – 4, 2024
Venue: Royal Kā‘anapali
Location: Lahaina, Maui
Yardage (Par): 6,700 (71)
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Tee Times: 8:30 a.m. HST shotgun each day
Donation Link: 2024 Kā‘anapali Classic invites you to support families of Maui wildfires
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Dates: November 2 – 4, 2024
Venue: Royal Kā‘anapali
Location: Lahaina, Maui
Yardage (Par): 6,700 (71)
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Tee Times: 8:30 a.m. HST shotgun each day
Donation Link: 2024 Kā‘anapali Classic invites you to support families of Maui wildfires
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
