Welch Returns to Oklahoma Lineup for NCAA Quarterfinal Match vs Illinois
After sitting for the first few rounds of the NCAA Championship and the last few rounds of the NCAA Regional, Patrick Welch is getting a second chance.
Welch is set to return to the Oklahoma lineup on Tuesday for the NCAA Quarterfinal match against Illinois.
Replacing Garret Reband, Welch will take on Illinois’ Adrien Dumont de Chassart in the quarterfinal match.
This is an interesting move for Oklahoma.
Reband has been one of the best players in the country throughout the season, in fact, he made the top five of the PGA Tour University Rankings and will be headed to the Korn Ferry Tour immediately following the NCAA Tournament.
Reband did shoot 80 in Monday’s final round of stroke play and finished in 80th. However, today’s format is completely different as it is match play.
Golf Channel begins coverage at noon eastern 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.
“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 was replaced by freshman Ben Lorenz, who has not left the lineup since.