Blake Colston
sports@piedmontnewsonline.com
Dustin Hasley fired an opening round 64 then held on down the stretch to capture the Oklahoma Golf Association stroke play championship played last week at Tulsa Country Club.
Hasley, a Piedmont alum who plays at Oral Roberts, shot 3-under for the tournament to edge the University of Oklahoma’s Thomas Johnson by one shot.
It was Hasley’s first victory since his 2016 Class 5A state championship.
“It was really good to win again,” he said. “I beat a lot of good college players. I felt really confident going there that I could win.”
Hasley and Johnson pulled away from the field by the final round, setting up a head-to-head pairing for the title. Hasley led by six shots after the first round and by four entering the third round, but Johnson didn’t go quietly.
He battled back to within a stroke of Hasley by the 12th hole and tied for the lead with a chip-in for birdie on the Par-3 17th.
“I knew he’d give me his best shot,” Hasley said. “It was definitely a shootout.”
Johnson’s tee shot on 18 found trouble and led to bogey. Hasley parred to win.
Hasley said he ‘wasn’t firing on all cylinders’ during the final two rounds after putting together an impressive opening 18 that included his first-ever hole-in-one in tournament play on the 226-yard Par-3 ninth.
“I knew it was a good shot, but I couldn’t see if it went in,” he said of the four-iron strike. “I didn’t know until I walked up to the green.”
Hasley went on to make eagle on the 475-yard Par-4 15th by holing out from 120 yards. He made birdies on two, five, seven and 11.
“That’s definitely as well as I’ve ever played considering the course,” he said. “The last two rounds were a struggle. I didn’t hit the ball as well and definitely didn’t putt as well, but I got it done.”
The 64 was one shot off his career-best 63 at Kickingbird in Edmond last year.
The victory gives Hasley a boost of confidence as he readies for his sophomore season at ORU this fall. He made the lineup for four of five tournaments last fall, but hopes to take another leap forward this season.
“Last year was a struggle. It was definitely a learning experience with the college aspect of being responsible and balancing school and golf,” he said. “But I feel really confident going into the rest of the summer.”
Hasley will play again at State Amateur Matchplay qualifying July 2 at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City.
His most immediate challenge will be finding a spot for the 60-pound stroke play title trophy he gets to keep until next year’s event.
“My roommates and I will find a good place for it,” he said.
