May 23, 2026 Issue, Page 3 of 14

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SPORTS The Elk City News SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2026 • 3 Elk City's Club Champion Travis Long Hitting Brandon Thomas Jorey Price played in Sayre Jeff Rule Gabe Edney - 'I told you I'd make it!' Stout reacts to a putt Blake Brewer took a team to Sayre Oklahoma & Local Sports By Alex Alvarez Or will second seed Texas de- fend its title? Maybe NiJaree NOTICE: Spring High School Canady and Texas Tech will fin- Sports are over, and we will have ish the job after getting so close a special with results and high- last season. Or maybe Oklaho- lights of all sports coming soon, ma will win its fifth title in six meanwhile, spring sports are years…. Let’s Do it! not done in college, with base- Men Golf: Ryder Cowan and ball, softball and golf dominat- Jase Summy were named to the ing the news. All-SEC First Team last Thurs- day as voted by the league’s OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY coaches. As of Monday, the Elk City's Justin Twyman - Almost an eagle! Jason Brooks, Will Malloy, Jay Manning & Jason Kiener SPORTS Sooners are playing the NCAA Softball: The lady Sooners Corvallis Regional in Tristin, holes. the National Championships. twice the height of Mount St. face UCF. continue to be a national force OR. On the first day, May 18, Baseball: The Oklahoma Helens) course in the desert. The 64-team NCAA Baseball with a 51-8 overall record in the Sooners shot 9-under par Sooners (32-20, 14-16 SEC) en- OKLAHOMA STATE Preston Stout shot the best “World Series” will begin on 2026 and 20-4 in conference and sat in second place. Five ter the postseason as the No. 11 UNIVERSITY SPORTS Cowboy round with 67 and as of Friday, May 29, as part of the play. At home, they have only teams will advance to the fi- seed in the SEC Tournament, Golf: The Cowboys are play- Tuesday was tied for third indi- 2026 lost one game! After a wild nals in California. Ryder Cowan set to open play against the No. ing their Regional Tournament vidually. Joining Stout in the top NCAA Division I baseball weekend of regional action in with -4 and Jase Summy with 14 seed LSU Tigers. While their at The Gallery Golf Club in Ma- 10 was Eric Lee who shot a 69. and will end with the 2026 Men’s the NCAA softball tournament, -3 led the Sooners charge. As of late season slide likely prevents rana, Arizona, also from May Baseball: The Oklahoma State College World Series in Omaha, 13 of the top 16 seeds advanced mid-second-round on Tuesday them from hosting a regional, 18-20. They are seeded #1 in University Cowboys finished Nebraska, which will begin on to super regionals. The winner (unfortunately our deadline is they are firmly locked into the this regional, and as the regional their 2026 regular season with June 12 and end on either June of each best-of-three super re- before they finish the second NCAA Tournament field. Junior in Corvallis, the top five teams an overall record of (36-19) (and 21 or 22. gional series will compete in the round) Oklahoma was sitting in catcher and first baseman Deit- will advance to the NCAA fi- (18-12) in Big 12 play). As the Sources: Elk City Golf & C.C. Women’s College World Series second place a shot behind Pur- en Lachance are the standout nals in California. The Cowboys No. 5 seed, they earned a double Chief John Cook, Facebook, OS- in Oklahoma City beginning due, and four ahead of Oregon hitter for the Oklahoma Sooners grabbed the lead after day one bye for the 2026 Big 12 Baseball SAA, Derek Hahn PGA. May 28. Will top overall seed State and 10 ahead of San Diego. baseball team, and he will lead with an opening 277, 11 under Tournament in Surprise, Arizo- Alabama cruise to the finish? The tournament is played at 54 the Sooners to a great finish in par at the 7,317-yard (about na, where they are scheduled to RECAP: PGA Championship By Alex Alvarez Dhabi HSBC Championship on were the favorites and all were The question is: will this be under par. Overnight leader Alex the DP Tour. This last win by in the mix at least after the third the lone major for Aaron, or is Then Aaron tied for the lead Smalley shot even par 70 and Anyone who asked the “ex- Aaron was a playoff win against day, but all of them found the it the first of a few? In the last 25 after a birdie on 11 that gave tied for second with Jon Rahm perts” on who was going to Tommy Fleetwood after both rough more times than they years, there have been 19 differ- him a six under par for the tour- at 6 under par after Rahm shot 2 win the PGA Championship having beat Rory McIlroy down would have liked, which put ent winners of the PGA Cham- nament. And as Rory and others under 68. In a tie for 4th at five never heard the words “Aaron the stretch by one shot, so, it’s them playing “defense” into the pionship, of which 13 have won kept missing fairways, therefore under were Justin Thomas, Lud- Rai” coming from their lips. not like Aaron is an “unknown, difficult greens. On the other it only once and 8 have not won missing opportunities to get a vig Aberg and Matti Schmid. Not even as a “dark horse”. Not untested player” like John Daly hand, Aaron, who had started 2 any other major. Winning a ma- good look at birdie by playing Next were three players tied once. It just goes to show that was in 1991! behind, the leader and tied with jor is big! Winning two is expo- defensive golf to the greens, at 7th at four under par: Rory golf is as unpredictable as any Aaron’s strengths are his Rahm at four under par and nentially big. Three and four or Aaron kept placing his ball on McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and other sport. In a tournament, driving accuracy and his de- only one ahead of Rory, played more gets exponentially harder, the short grass and reaching Cameron Smith, another ma- you have over 120 players who meanor. Ben Hogan, who nev- the last 10 holes in six under and of course, those who have greens in regulation. It was all jor winner, and in a tie for at 3 qualified for an event and trust er ever “predicted” a winner or par, beginning with an eagle on won a big one before are the kind of close until Aaron holed under par were Chris Gotterup the stats: they are all great play- a favorite in a tournament (“I #9 and four birdies on the back pre-tournament favorites, only a 70-footer on #17, the toughest (who played at the University ers who can win at any time, and don’t know who will win, that’s nine, never missing a fairway, this time, a 150-1 long shot beat hole in the tournament as Rory, of Oklahoma and who has three in a major, the winner is usually why they are playing, to see which gave him the opportunity the ones with best odds. who made bogey on 13 behind wins already), Justin Rose (one someone who has won before. who wins”) always said that the to “attack” the difficult hole lo- For a while it looked as if him and Rahm cold not make major), Patrick Reed (one ma- Aaron Rai was not among the driver was the most important cations. two previous major winners birdies from long distance. The jor) and Kurt Kitayama, who field that “qualified” to play in club in the bag: you drive it long Both of Aaron’s parents are were the players to beat, Jus- 70-footer gave Rai a 9 under close with the best score of the the recent RBC Heritage won by and well, and you give yourself immigrants to England, his fa- tin Thomas, who has won the par and a four-shot lead at the tournament with a 63. Matt Fitzpatrick. Why? As much a chance to have options to hit ther from Kenya and his mother championship twice and who moment, with one hole to play. The next major will be on as I really like Jordan Spieth, your next shot to the green. Of from India, who instilled strong finished early with a 65 and was Rahm would birdie #16 to get Father’s Day weekend, the U.S. who played there, but whose course before the tournament, work ethic and resilience, as the “clubhouse leader” at five within 3 and that is as close as Open and defending champion last win was in 2023, Aaron Rai players like Scottie Scheffler (4 shown when he got behind under par, and Jon Rahm, a past anyone got in the end. Rai de- is J.J. Spaun who missed the cut has won a few including the majors), Xander Schauffele (2 Tommy Fleetwood, only to winner of the Masters and the served the win with grit, accu- in the PGA Championship. 2024 Wyndham Championship majors), Justin Thomas (2 ma- catch him and beat him in the U.S. Open who shared the lead racy and a clam demeanor that Sources ESPN, Google, MSN on the PGA Tour and 2025 Abu jors) and Jon Rahm (2 majors) playoff last December. in the middle of the round at 6 no one saw coming. Sports, On-Line media. Professional Team Sports By Alex Alvarez However, even though the Spurs is someone who is truly difficult to But in the first game, Wenbanya- series at the Little Caesars Are- other semifinal was not been de- won four out of five regular season guard. Born in Toronto, he played ma was the star, and the Spurs took na in Detroit, MI in a game that cided until Monday the 18 when NBA PLAYOFFS games against the Thunder, the for the University of Kentucky, a the lead in the series by beating the was not close at all, 125-94 with the Montreal Canadiens beat the Western Conference: The #1 current champions are favorites basketball powerhouse where he Thunder at home in a game that re- Donovan Mitchell playing a great Buffalo Sabres in seven games on seed Oklahoma City Thunder is to win the Western Conference by learned much of what he applied quired two over time periods. game and scoring 26 points in Monday the 18th. The first game back in the Conference Finals and 72% and were the favorites by 6.5 as a professional. On the court, Eastern Conference: On the the final game of the Conference of the Eastern Conference finals is are playing the #2 seed San Anto- points on the first game on Mon- he is a “killer”, off the court, he is East, the top two seeds did not semifinals. scheduled for May 21st. nio Spurs who eliminated the Min- day, May 18th. known for being delightfully com- make it to the conference finals. It will be a great matchup be- Western Conference Semifinals: nesota Timberwolves in six games. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander contin- posed and “delightfully boring”. He The #2 Boston Celtics lost in the tween Mitchell and Jalen Brun- The #1 Colorado Avalanche beat In this Western Conference, the top ues to be the man to guard, as he doesn’t let emotions dictate his play, first round of the playoffs against son who is the best scorer for the #3 Minnesota Wild 4-1 in their two teams made it to the finals, and won the MVP honors for the sec- stays cool in the clutch, and consis- #7 Philadelphia 76ers, who lat- Knicks. semifinal series, and will face Las while Oklahoma City Thunder is ond straight year. He has averaged tently deflects praise to his team- er lost to the #3 seed New York Vegas Golden Knights who beat the favorite, you never know what just under 30 points per game in mates and coaching staff. A great Knicks who in turn will play NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE the Anaheim Ducks in the semifi- will happen. This year, during the the playoffs and just a little over 30 role model, win or lose. It will be a the conference finals against #4 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS nals in a series that went six games. regular season, these two teams points during the regular season. great series with Alexander facing Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs In the Eastern Conference Semi- The first game is scheduled for May played each other with San Anto- A master of the mid-range shots, Stephan Castle and Viktor Wen- beat the #1 Detroit Pistons in the finals: 20. nio beating the Thunder four times with his signature of “step-back- banyama… we have more than Al- semifinals in a series that went While the Carolina Hurricanes Sources: ESPN, PGA Tour.com, out of five! Even two losses at home turn-around-jumpers” and change exander: Chet Holmgren and Jalen all seven games, with the Cava- won their semifinal series 4-0 ver- LPGA.com, AP Tennis, MSN Sports, by 15 and 21 points. of speed that draws many fouls, he Williams! liers winning the last game of the sus the Philadelphia Flyers, the On-Line media. Sports Tidbits By Alex Alvarez his sports opinion! tion was: Who’s going to win the that it will be three at the most. events died at 88; and Jim Colbert, A sad note, and drugs continue PGA Championship? Rori, Scottie, Old story of the PGA Cham- who won a combined 28 events be- TENNIS: BASEBALL: to kill many: twenty nine-year old Jon? Who knows, that’s why they’re pionship: in 1971, Gary Player tween the tour the senior tour dies Elina Svitolina beats Coco Gauff The Dodgers have won three Brandon Clarke, from the Mem- playing, to see who wins. So, who was guest at Jack Nicklaus’ house at 85. Jim Colbert was known from for third time in a row to claim straight shutouts with “non-top-of phis Grizzlies was found dead in picked Aaron Rai, a 150-1 long during the PGA Championship, the distance as he always wore his Italian Open title. When you have the lineup” pitchers! That’s some- California with drug paraphernalia shot? His wife! (she is a professional and every morning, when Barbara shirt collar up around his neck. someone’s “number” it’s tough to thing in Major League Baseball! at the residence. golfer as well). served breakfast, Gary switched get beaten! Aaron Rai was not as long shot plates with Jack “in case Barba- LOCAL: Jannik Sinner became the first NBA & WNBA HORSE RACING: NO TRIPLE as Mickelson was in 2021 when he ra was using ingredients to make Two kids (okay, young men) Italian to win the Italian Open in “League Does Not Want Caitlin CROWN THIS YEAR was 250-1 and won. Gary play bad”. Jack won anyway! from Sayre High School who play half a century! The last Italian to Clark”: WNBA World Has Plenty Three Derby Horses raced in the So, what are the odd makers say- Lottie Woad of England, win- golf together, celebrated graduation win it before him was Adriano Pan- to Say After A’ja Wilson Named Preakness Stakes on short rest: none ing about Aaron Rai for the U.S. ner of the 2024 Augusta National together at Sayre national sporting nata. Jannik is now 17-0 in clay in ‘Most Marketable’ Player (really?) finished higher than 4th. Incredi- Open? Scheffler is at +400, McIl- Women’s Amateur won her second Augusta Green shirts with the Au- 2026, with the French Open com- Celtics star Jaylen Brown tears bolt, Robusta and Ocelli, with the roy is at +800 and Aaron Rai is at LPGA tournament last Sunday. gusta National Logo. Will they one ing next week at the most famous into ESPN’s Stephen A Smith and later coming in 4th at Preakness. +8,000!!! Take the bet! Augusta continues to shine! day go watch this tournament? clay courts: Roland Garros and asked for him to “retire”, saying that How many of the 20 LIV players Golf lost two greats last week. Elk City team wins the fifth without Carlos in the field. Smith is “Face of clickbait media”. GOLF: playing the Sectional qualifiers will Lou Graham, the 1975 U.S. Cham- “The Bob” Golf Tournament! Sayre Sources ESPN, Google, MSN That’s his job! You don’t have to like Before the tournament the ques- make it to the U.S. Open? Odds are pion and winner of six other Tour teams were just close! Sports, on-line me