Former OCU golfer James Marchesani has earned his way into the Australian Masters that starts Thursday and goes through Sunday at the Metropolitan Golf Club.
Marchesani, the 2014 NAIA men’s golf individual champion, picked up one of the six pre-qualifying berths.
Marchesani finished second in program history with a 72.22 career stroke average. Marchesani became a four-time first-team all-American, all-region and all-Sooner Athletic Conference performer. He captured five tournament victories, including his last three starts as a Star.
Marchesani led the NAIA with 70.74 per round, as a senior. He won the Jack Nicklaus Award, the Arnold Palmer Award, the O.D. Bounds Medalist trophy, all-Nicklaus and SAC player of the year honors.
Marchesani played on Stars’ teams that won two national championships and three conference titles.
The Stars won NAIA championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013.
“Obviously we are happy for him,” Coach Kyle Blaser said. “He was a big cog in our program. To earn a spot in the tournament was awesome. Pro golf will be his life. He will be successful. There is no doubt in my mind.”
The tournament begins at 6:45 a.m. Australian Eastern daylight time Thursday, which is actually 1:45 p.m. Wednesday here. Marchesani will be in the final group that starts on the 10th hole at 12:55 p.m. Australian Eastern time, so it will be 7:55 p.m. Wednesday here. Golf Channel, which is channel 60 with Cox in the Oklahoma City metro area, will air the tournament at 8:30 p.m. every day.
Adam Scott will attempt to capture his third consecutive gold jacket, which goes to the winner of the tournament along with $1 million. The field includes Americans Boo Weeklet and Kyle Stanley, as well as Australians Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Greg Chalmers, Marcus Fraser, Richard Green and Geoff Ogilvy.
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