Oklahoma State men’s, women’s teams race to match play finals in Atlanta

The match play finals for the 2026 East Lake Cup are set.

On the men’s side, Auburn and Oklahoma State will battle for the title Wednesday in a showdown between two national championship-winning programs.

The Oklahoma State women’s team also reached the match-play final in Atlanta, besting USC 3 and 2 in the semifinals to advance to face Arkansas.

Louise Depadt shined for Oklahoma State, needing a playoff hole to top the Trojans Sarah Hammett in what proved to be the match of the day.

On the first extra hole, Depadt closed the match out with a birdie putt at the par-3 15th after an amazing tee shot that put her less than two feet from the hole. Less than a half hour earlier, Hammett had tied the match at the 18th hole after facing falling five down over the first six holes.

Tarapath Panya and Ellie Bushnell also collected 3-and-2 wins for the Cowgirls on Tuesday.

“She played really good on the back nine and I didn’t do my best, but I’m happy with that last shot I hit and just happy I was able to get my team the win,” said Depadt of her match against Hammett.

East Lake Cup - Final Rd

Top collegiate golfers compete in the East Lake Cup at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga.

María José Marín continues to pace the Razorbacks at this event, edging Eastern Michigan’s Baiyok Sukterm in the match play semifinals. She won her seventh individual NCAA trophy on Monday.

Arkansas also had single match play wins from Sara Brentcheneff, Natalie Blonien, and Ebba Lilijeberg in a route of the Eagles.

‘Aggressive mentality’

Men’s co-medalists Preston Stout and Logan Reilly dominated again at East Lake Golf Club on Tuesday, a day after breaking Scottie Scheffler’s collegiate course record.

Reilly was one of four Tigers to earn full points for the reigning men’s national champions. Josiah Gilbert, Billy Davis and Jake Albert all put in solid work to propel Auburn over Arizona 4-1 in the match play semis.

In addition to Stout, the Oklahoma State men’s team was able to dispatch UCLA — the national runner-ups from 2026 — thanks to a strong performance from Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson.

“I was able to put a lot of pressure on him with my ball striking,” said Stout of his match play singles opponent, UCLA’s Alex Papayoanou.

“Match play is fun, it’s just about switching a little more of an aggressive mentality is really what it is,” Stout added.

Gaven Lane also collected an early point for the Cowboys when UCLA’s Tyler Loree conceded the match due to illness after 11 holes.

Oklahoma State won the men’s national championship in 2025, breaking up what would have been a three-peat for the Auburn Tigers.