Oklahoma State Men's and Women's Golf Teams Reach East Lake Cup Finals

Oklahoma State Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams Reach East Lake Cup Finals

by

Oklahoma State’s men’s and women’s golf teams have both advanced to the match-play finals of the 2026 East Lake Cup in Atlanta, setting the stage for a high-stakes Wednesday showdown at East Lake Golf Club.

The Cowboys will face off against Auburn in the men’s final, while the Cowgirls are slated to battle Arkansas for the women’s title.

For the men, the matchup is between two programs that have dominated national rankings over the last two years. Oklahoma State entered the finals having previously disrupted Auburn’s momentum in 2025, when the Cowboys won the national championship and prevented the Tigers from securing a three-peat.

Cowgirls edge USC in playoff thriller

The Oklahoma State women’s team secured their spot in the finals with a 3-and-2 victory over USC in the semifinals. The defining moment of the day came from Louise Depadt, who survived a volatile match against the Trojans’ Sarah Hammett. Depadt found herself in a precarious position, but the match eventually pushed to a playoff hole.

The drama peaked on the first extra hole—the par-3 15th. Depadt delivered a precise tee shot that left her less than two feet from the cup, allowing her to sink the birdie putt and seal the win. The victory showed resilience; Hammett had nearly staged a comeback, tying the match at the 18th hole after previously trailing by five shots through the first six holes.

She played really good on the back nine and I didn’t do my best, but I’m happy with that last shot I hit and just happy I was able to get my team the win, Depadt said of the victory.

While Depadt provided the fireworks, Tarapath Panya and Ellie Bushnell provided the stability, both collecting 3-and-2 wins to ensure the Cowgirls’ advancement. They now face an Arkansas squad led by María José Marín, who has been a force of the event. Marín already claimed her seventh individual NCAA trophy on Monday and advanced to the final after defeating Eastern Michigan’s Baiyok Sukterm. Arkansas dominated their semifinal matchup against the Eagles, with single match wins from Sara Brentcheneff, Natalie Blonien, and Ebba Lilijeberg.

Auburn and Oklahoma State men set for rematch

Auburn, the reigning national champions, cruised to a 4-1 victory over Arizona to reach the finals. The Tigers’ momentum is anchored by co-medalists Preston Stout and Logan Reilly, who just one day prior broke Scottie Scheffler’s collegiate course record at East Lake.

Reilly was one of four Tigers to earn full points in the semifinals, supported by solid performances from Josiah Gilbert, Billy Davis, and Jake Albert.

NCAA Golf Highlights: East Lake Cup Final Round | Golf Channel

Match play is fun, it’s just about switching a little more of an aggressive mentality is really what it is, Stout noted regarding his strategy.

Oklahoma State matched that intensity to dispatch UCLA, the 2026 national runners-up. Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson helped secure the victory, while Gaven Lane earned an early point after UCLA’s Tyler Loree conceded the match due to illness after 11 holes. Stout’s ball-striking proved too much for UCLA’s Alex Papayoanou, helping the Cowboys advance to the final against Auburn.

The stakes of the East Lake showdown

The finals will determine which program claims the 2026 East Lake Cup title, with both the men’s and women’s matches scheduled for Wednesday.

Keep reading

Read next