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The NCAA Championship is underway out in Arizona, but one player who might not see any action is former Classical star Patrick Welch. 

Welch is listed as an alternate on the Oklahoma Sooner roster headed into the Championship. 

“Patrick Welch, JR, – Alternate for 2021 NCAA Championship, would be second appearance (2019) if he plays … Won the East Lake Cup in October 2020, firing a 67 … Career-scoring average of 71.69 is the fourth-best in program history … Honorable mention All-American as a freshman in 2019 … Won the drive, chip and putt competition at Augusta National in 2014” writes Oklahoma Athletics in their preview. 

Freshman Ben Lorenz will continue to replace Welch in the Championship, like he did in the regionals. 

“We decided to make the move to put Lorenz into the lineup because Patrick (Welch) just hasn’t been feeling it great on the putting green. We believe in Ben and trusted that he could get the job done. For him to come out today with all sorts of pressure and shoot a couple under par was the difference in us moving on,” said Oklahoma Head Coach Ryan Hybl at the time. 

Welch’s Season 

The former Classical star made the Haskins Award Watch list for 2021 and came away victorious in the East Lake Cup back in October of 2020. 

Since then, Welch has had a few high finishes, but has yet to regain his dominance from East Lake. 

Welch was benched after shooting an 8-over par 80 in the NCAA Tournament Regional a couple of weeks ago.