Oklahoma State's Preston Stout makes history with 3rd straight Big 12 title
Preston Stout accomplished something Wednesday not done in the history of the Big 12 Conference. The junior at Oklahoma State, who's ranked second in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, won his third consecutive Big 12 individual championship, the only golfer in conference history to complete the trifecta. Stout held off likely Phil Mickelson Award winner Kihei Akina of BYU by three shot at Prairie Dunes in Hutchison, Kansas, for his third straight Big 12 crown.
Last year, Stout joined Ludvig Aberg as players to win consecutive Big 12 Conference titles. And now, he's staked his place among the best players in Big 12 history. Stout capped the historic victory, his fourth of the season, with an even-par 70, finishing at 11 under for the 72-hole event.
All four of his victories have come in his last six starts. His first two Big 12 Championships came at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Texas and last year at Southern Hills Country Club in Oklahoma. Stout helped the Cowboys, the defending national champions, pick up their fourth win of the year, beating Arizona by eight shots and TCU by nine.
It was OSU's 13th Big 12 title and 58th conference crown in school history. The Cowboys are a shoo-in to be a No. 1 seed during next week's NCAA Regional selection show, with their quest to repeat as champions having a strong case thanks to the play of Stout and others.
The Cowboys returned all five players from their 12th title in school history last year. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Oklahoma State's Preston Stout wins 3rd straight Big 12 Championship