Latest news with #OklahomaStateUniversity
Khaleej Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Ethan Fang conquers Amateur Championship in thrilling finale at Royal St George's
In a final that will be remembered for its sheer drama, 20-year-old Ethan Fang of the United States captured one of the most coveted titles in amateur golf - The 130th Amateur Championship. Set against the iconic backdrop of Royal St George's in England, this historic championship, first played in 1885 and run by The R&A, brought together the finest amateur talents from around the world. Out of 288 competitors representing 45 nations, it all came down to two players, one unforgettable duel, and 36 holes of relentless pressure. Fang, currently ranked No. 7 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), started as a favourite. But his opponent, Ireland's Gavin Tiernan, ranked 1,340th, refused to play to the script. The 19-year-old produced a masterclass in tenacity and shot-making, forcing Fang to dig deep. 'It feels great. Still doesn't feel real yet. But I'm sure it'll kick in, and I'll celebrate with my team,' said Fang moments after sinking the winning putt. The win does more than just cement Fang's legacy in amateur golf. It catapults the Oklahoma State University student into the global spotlight with automatic entries into The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, the US Open, and - in a dream come true for any golfer - a traditional invitation to The Masters. He'll also tee it up in the British Masters, hosted by Nick Faldo, on the DP World Tour. Two Young Stars, One Champion From the first tee shot to the final putt, this match was a seesaw battle filled with momentum shifts and clutch performances. Tiernan was the early aggressor, taking a one-up lead in the morning session with steady, composed golf. Despite battling nerves, Fang clawed back into the match with a conceded eagle on the 14th. But Tiernan responded quickly, regaining the lead before the lunch break with a brilliant tee shot on the par-3 16th that set up a birdie. The Irish talent never trailed in the first 18 holes, but the afternoon belonged to Fang. Emerging from lunch with renewed focus, the American made his move on the 23rd hole. Just as he pulled ahead, Tiernan responded again - this time with his own conceded eagle on the 25th. They turned onto the final nine holes locked all square, neither willing to blink. Then, Fang edged in front. Two holes up with just three to play, it seemed the title was within his grasp. But Tiernan, already a hero among the gathered fans, produced a stunning response by sinking back-to-back long-range birdie putts on the 34th and 35th holes to draw level once more. And so, with everything on the line, they walked to the 36th tee. Fang delivered two pure strikes to set up a nerveless five-foot birdie. Tiernan's own attempt narrowly missed. With thousands watching at the famous course, and countless more online, Fang calmly drained the winner. 'I was hitting it well all day, and I knew if I just stayed in it, some putts would drop, kind of have him work for it, and it ended up working out,' said Fang. 'I heard going into the week that an American hasn't won this championship in ten-plus years. Representing your flag, that's what it's all about, and I'm glad we did it for USA.' 'The Masters, The Open… I'm just glad it's all done now, and I can just take a second to think about everything I did this week and just kind of enjoy it. It's probably the most consistent golf I've played in my life. It's a super long championship, and it just feels really good to finally get it done.' A Star Among Legends Fang now joins an elite group of past champions, including Sir Michael Bonallack, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia, and Aldrich Potgieter. Dubai-based Garrick Porteous, who captured the title in 2013 and now works with ProSports International, also adds a local Middle East link to this storied list. Ethan Fang's triumph is more than just a personal milestone, t's a signal to the professional game that a new talent has arrived, battle-tested and ready to take on the sport's biggest stages. What's next for the newly crowned champion? A ticket to golf's grandest theatres, and a chance to turn amateur glory into global success.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
American Wins Amateur in England
American Wins Amateur in England originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Winning a 72-hole stroke-play event is hard, but winning a major amateur championship seems even more daunting with two rounds of qualifying and then six rounds of match play. Advertisement Ethan Fang of Oklahoma State University accomplished the overwhelming by defeating Ireland's Gavin Tiernan 1-up in The Amateur Championship in a 36-hole final on Saturday at Royal St. George's The 130th edition of the oldest amateur championship didn't disappoint, with a match on paper that seemed to be one-sided; Fang is seventh in the World Amateur Rankings, while Tiernan is 1,340th in the world. Through the 32nd hole, neither Fang nor Tiernan had a lead larger than 1-up, but when the Irishman from County Louth bogeyed the 33rd hole, the par-4 15th at Royal St. George's, the OSU Cowboy had a 2-up lead with only three holes remaining. That is when the East Tennessee State University golfer turned it on, making long birdie putts on the 34th and 35th holes to erase the 2-down deficit, making the 36th the pivotal hole of the match. After losing the lead, Fang didn't disappoint, winning the match with a birdie at the last to be the first American to take the oldest amateur title since Drew Weaver in 2007. Ethan Fang hits his opening drive in The 130th Amateur Championship Final, where he played for his place in The 153rd Open of the R&A 'I was hitting it well all day and I knew if I just stayed in it, some putts would drop, kind of have him work for it, and it ended up working out,' Fang said of his strategy. 'It's probably the most consistent golf I've played in my life. It's a super-long championship, it and just feels really good to finally get it done.' Advertisement Fang worked hard to get into the finals, winning his first match 1-up over Englishman Jamie Van Wyk, and then taking 20 holes to close out Scotland's Connor Graham in the round of 16. After an easy 5-and-4 victory in the round of 8, Fang had to go to the 18th hole again, winning 2-up over Callixte Alzas of France. Fang made the semifinals an easy springboard to the finals with a 5-and-4 win over Finland's Veikka Viskari. The win will propel Fang in the world rankings and open the door to the Masters, U.S. Open and the Open Championship at Royal Portrush next month. 'The Masters, The Open, I'm just glad it's all done now and I can just take a second to think about everything I did this week and just kind of enjoy it,' Fang said. Advertisement Related: Heartbreak for Tommy Fleetwood After Travelers Championship Disaster on 72nd Hole Related: Phil Mickelson Sends Message to Keegan Bradley After Dramatic Travelers Championship Win This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Record
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Amatuer prodigy rips up summer plans as he earns dream tickets to Open and Masters
Ethan Fang needs to change summer as he'll hit Portrush Stylish kid Ethan Fang is having to make fresh summer plans after booking his dream ticket to the Open Championship as well as The Masters. The Oklahoma State University teenager is on his way to Royal Portrush and Augusta as well as the next year's US Open after winning The 130th Amateur Championship. Fang became the first American winner of the event in 18 years as he broke the heart of Irishman Gavin Tiernan in a thrilling R&A Final at Royal St George's. Going into the last of the 36-hole clash, it was all-square after Tiernan roared back from two down to keep alive his dream of playing next month's Open on home soil. However, Fang produced a magical approach on the 18th to secure a birdie which saw him follow in the footsteps of the likes of Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria-Olazabal and punch his passports to the trio of incredible events. The youngster admits plans will have to change as he said: 'It's a pretty big trophy and, yeah, playing the Masters and the Open Championship, that's going to be pretty sweet. I'd signed up for a couple of amateur tournaments, but I think I'm going to have to cancel that and go to the others!' Fang was the favourite going into the Final, but he was made to work all the way by Tiernan who produced special moments on the 34th and 35th holes of the Final to haul himself back level and in with a serious shot of a place at Portrush. But the American kept his cool to conquer his first experience of links golf and said: 'That was probably one of the longest days of golf I've ever played, but it feels really good to come up on top. I didn't really know what to expect coming here and he played great. I've been in situations like that before [Tiernan fightback] and I just hit a really good shot on the last hole. That was about it.' Fang's parents were in attendance at Sandwich to see their boy prevail and he said: 'All my friends and family back home, and especially [caddie] Will here. He's been great on the bag. You know, I put him through a lot, but we got it done.' Fang becomes the latest winner of The Championship, first hosted at Hoylake in 1885, that boasts an impressive list of former champions including Sir Michael Bonallack, Olazabel and Garcia. As well as the outings at the three Majors starting next month in Northern Ireland, moving to the Masters and onto Shinnecock Hills for the US Open, he also earns a place in the field at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo on the DP World Tour. Fang knows the importance of his success as, after winning his semi-final, he said: "I took a pretty long look on that board with the trophies and all those names. I saw Sergio won it. It's cool to see all those professional players come out here and win it and now I'm doing the same thing, and hopefully have their accomplishments on Tour."
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election results: Voters pick new OKC, Tulsa-area representatives in three House races
The polls have closed on three legislative races to fill vacant seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, including one in Oklahoma City that will now be held by a former district judge. House lawmakers finished this year's session with empty seats after three members resigned to take other jobs. The seats were filled in special elections held in Oklahoma County and the Tulsa area. The state Senate filled its own vacancy in May with the election of Republican Bryan Logan, who is the new state senator for a district in eastern Oklahoma. The political balance of the Oklahoma House of Representatives won't change much, if at all. Each of the winners during the Tuesday, June 10 election are the same party as their predecessor, meaning neither party lost a seat. The special election leaves the House with 81 Republicans and 20 Democrats. Former District Judge Aletia Haynes Timmons was victorious in the special election to fill a seat vacated in April by recently elected Oklahoma County Commissioner Jason Lowe. Timmons defeated JeKia Harrison in the Democratic primary with 59% of the vote, according to results posted by the Oklahoma State Election Board. This primary was a winner-take-all election. No Republicans or independents filed for the open House of Representatives seat. District 97 includes portions of far northeast Oklahoma City, plus the metro-area communities of Spencer, Lake Aluma and Forest Park. The district also includes voters in parts of Jones and Midwest City. Timmons, 64, was an elected Oklahoma County district judge for about a decade before she retired from the position in March. Before joining the bench in 2014, she was an attorney working on civil rights and employment law, and also worked for a time in the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office. Timmons is a graduate of OKC's John Marshall High School and earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Oklahoma State University. She obtained her law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Harrison, 35, has worked at the Oklahoma State Capitol as a legislative assistant for Tulsa state Rep. Meloyde Blancett. Harrison previously worked as child welfare specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and also owns a political campaign consulting business called Pen 2 Paper Consulting. House District 71 is a sliver of land along the Arkansas River in south Tulsa. The seat became vacant after the resignation of Democratic state Rep. Amanda Swope, who left state government to work for the city of Tulsa. In the district's special election, Democrat Amanda Clinton won by a wide margin over Republican attorney Beverly Atteberry. Clinton secured 85% of the votes. Clinton, 46, runs a public relations firm and is an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University. She also sits on boards for Planned Parenthood and the OSU Foundation Board of Governors. Clinton previously said she's an advocate for reproductive health freedom, access to medical care, clean water and minimizing "state Superintendent Ryan Walters' impact on public schools." She is also active in tribal policy. "District 71 deserves leadership that shows up, speaks truth, and fights like hell for working people, and that's exactly what I plan to do," Clinton said in a news release celebrating her victory. Although once a Republican stronghold, District 71 has been held by a Democrat since 2018. More: One election may have reshaped Oklahoma Senate GOP's politics. Could it shift even further right? Owasso pastor and Republican nominee Kevin Wayne Norwood was victorious in House District 74. Norwood defeated Democrat Amy Hossain with about 65% of the vote. The district straddles Tulsa and Rogers counties in northeastern Oklahoma. Voters have elected a Republican in that district for 25 years. The seat became vacant in December when Mark Vancuren took a job in Tulsa County government. Norwood, 58, is a pastor and works with community initiatives like Keep Owasso Beautiful and Owasso Cares. Norwood has said he wants to build a vibrant economy, safer communities and strong infrastructure and to give Oklahomans tax relief. His priorities also include revitalizing community main streets, and he criticized the "green energy grift" on his website. Hossain, 50, is the chief human resources officer Tulsa's Domestic Violence Intervention Services. She is also the president of the nonprofit Khan Ohana, which works to "break the cycle of poverty among college students." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma election results for House Districts 97, 74, 71
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election results: Vacant House seats in OKC, Tulsa area filled during special election
The polls have closed on three legislative races to fill vacant seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, including one in Oklahoma City. House lawmakers finished this year's session with empty seats after three members resigned to take other jobs. The seats were filled in special elections held in Oklahoma County and the Tulsa area. The state Senate filled its own vacancy in May with the election of Republican Bryan Logan, who is the new state senator for a district in eastern Oklahoma. In House District 97, JeKia Harrison and Aletia Haynes Timmons faced off for the Democratic primary to fill a seat that was vacated in April by Jason Lowe after Lowe won election to the Oklahoma County Commission. Shortly after the polls closed at 7 p.m., Timmons was leading, according to early tabulated results posted by the Oklahoma State Election Board. This primary was a winner-take-all election. No Republicans or independents filed for the open House of Representatives seat. District 97 includes portions of far northeast Oklahoma City, plus the metro-area communities of Spencer, Lake Aluma and Forest Park. The district also includes voters in parts of Jones and Midwest City. Timmons, 64, was an elected Oklahoma County district judge for about a decade before she retired from the position in March. Before joining the bench in 2014, she was an attorney working on civil rights and employment law, and also worked for a time in the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office. Timmons is a graduate of OKC's John Marshall High School and earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Oklahoma State University. She obtained her law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Harrison, 35, has worked at the Oklahoma State Capitol as a legislative assistant for Tulsa state Rep. Meloyde Blancett. Harrison previously worked as child welfare specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and also owns a political campaign consulting business called Pen 2 Paper Consulting. She is a graduate of Millwood High School, which is located in House District 97, and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. House District 71 is a sliver of land along the Arkansas River in south Tulsa. The seat became vacant after the resignation of Democratic state Rep. Amanda Swope, who left state government to work for the city of Tulsa. In the district's special election, Democrat Amanda Clinton was on track to win a wide victory over Republican attorney Beverly Atteberry. With more than half of the precincts reporting, Clinton had 86% of the votes counted. Clinton, 46, runs a public relations firm and is an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University. She also sits on boards for Planned Parenthood and the OSU Foundation Board of Governors. Clinton previously said she's an advocate for reproductive health freedom, access to medical care, clean water and minimizing "state Superintendent Ryan Walters' impact on public schools." She is also active in tribal policy. "District 71 deserves leadership that shows up, speaks truth, and fights like hell for working people, and that's exactly what I plan to do," Clinton said in a news release celebrating her victory. Although once a Republican stronghold, District 71 has been held by a Democrat since 2018. More: One election may have reshaped Oklahoma Senate GOP's politics. Could it shift even further right? Democrat Amy Hossain faced off against Republican nominee Kevin Wayne Norwood in Owasso's House District 74. As precincts began reporting votes after 7 p.m., Norwood took a strong lead in the count. The district straddles Tulsa and Rogers counties in northeastern Oklahoma. Voters have elected a Republican in that district for 25 years. The seat became vacant in December when Mark Vancuren took a job in Tulsa County government. Norwood, 58, is a pastor and works with community initiatives like Keep Owasso Beautiful and Owasso Cares. Norwood has said he wants to build a vibrant economy, safer communities and strong infrastructure and to give Oklahomans tax relief. His priorities also include revitalizing community main streets, and he criticized the "green energy grift" on his website. Hossain, 50, is the chief human resources officer Tulsa's Domestic Violence Intervention Services. She is also the president of the nonprofit Khan Ohana, which works to "break the cycle of poverty among college students." Her priorities include raising the minimum wage, better funding for public schools, access to affordable and accessible health care and housing, according to her website. (This is a developing story and has been updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma election results for House Districts 97, 74, 71
