• Main
• Roster
• Coaches
• Schedule
• Statistics
• Archives

Nov. 13, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma senior golfer Will Kropp has been selected to participate in the 2012 Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic on Nov. 18-20 in El Paso, Texas.

Kropp will compete with 23 of the world's elite amateur golfers in the prestigious event at the 6,781-yard, par-71 El Paso Country Club.

"It feels very good to be selected for such a big tournament where only 23 of the best college players in the nation get to play," Kropp said. "It is one of those weeks I will never forget, and I am looking forward to getting down there and competing among some of the better players in the nation."

The field includes 16 of the top 100 amateur golfers in the world, according to the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings, including second-ranked Justin Thomas (Alabama) and 2012 NCAA individual champion Thomas Pieters (Illinois).

"The field is going to be one of the best fields of the year," Kropp said. "I know it will be good competition and at the end of the day I am just competing against myself and the golf course."

Last season, Kropp competed in all seven of OU's spring team events, earning one top-10 and three top-20 finishes, including a share of ninth place at the NCAA Championships. Kropp was named to the PING Honorable Mention All-America Team following his performance at the championships.

"It's a great honor to be able to play in the All-American," OU head coach Ryan Hybl said. "With Will's great play at nationals last season, he is very deserving."

This season, Kropp has seen action in one team event, finishing 32nd at the Mason Rudolph Championship. The Edmond, Okla., native owns a 73.98 career scoring average at Oklahoma.
Kropp believes the experience will be very beneficial.

"In golf, you learn every day you go out on the golf course," Kropp said. "But I think playing with and competing against some of the best players in the country, I will be able to learn a lot from their games and how my game reacts when I am competing against them."

Alumni of the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic have gone on to earn more than $1.5 billion and win 589 events on the PGA Tour. Past champions of the Golf Classic include Ricky Barnes (2000), Notah Begay (1994), David Duval (1991), Matt Kuchar (1999), Davis Love III (1984), Chris Nallen (2003), Jerry Pate (1974), Webb Simpson (2007), Nicholas Thompson (2004) and Tiger Woods (1995).

In all, 144 colleges and universities have participated in the tournament, raising almost $700,000 in scholarship money for the participating institutions.

Each university represented by the Western Refining College All-Americans will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Following is a schedule of events (times are CST):

Sunday, Nov. 18
Titleist Long Drive Contest (10 a.m.)
PING Putting Contest (11 a.m.)
Practice round (1 p.m.)

Monday, Nov. 19
First and second rounds, 36 holes (9 a.m.)

Tuesday, Nov. 20
Final round, 18 holes (9 a.m.)
Trophy presentation (following final round, approximately 2 p.m.)