오클라호마 스테이트 주니어 프레스턴 스타우트가 NCAA 챔피언십 3라운드에서 7언더 65스트로크를 기록하며 1타 차 선두로 최종라운드에 진출했다. 세계 아마추어 골프 랭킹 3위인 스타우트의 누적 타수는 12언더(-12)다.
스타우트의 뒤를 따르는 선수들은 애리조나의 필립 자쿠브치크(PGA Tour University 8순위), 앨라배마의 윌리엄 제닝스, 밴더빌트의 윌 하트만으로 이들은 모두 10언더에서 나뭇가지를 이루고 있다. 팀 기준으로는 오번이 선두를 달리고 있다.
01스타우트의 상승 궤도
지난 12개월간 스타우트는 4승을 거두며 급부상했다. 빅 12 챔피언십 3년 연속 우승, 노스이스트 아마추어 우승이 그 증거다. 또한 팔머컵과 워커컵 미국 대표로도 활약하며 2027 클래스에서 상위권 선수로 자리잡을 준비를 하고 있다.
022026 클래스 1순위 경쟁 계속
한편 2026 클래스 1순위 경쟁은 아직 결판이 나지 않았다. 현재 1순위 벤 제임스(버지니아)는 3라운드 후 투가 아래(-2)로 22위에 머물렀지만, 1순위로 진출하면서 자신의 운명을 스스로 통제할 수 있는 상황이다. 2순위 크리스챤 마스(텍사스) 역시 투 아래(-2)에서 함께 22위에 있는데, 그가 최종라운드에서 7위 이상(solo 7th 이상)으로 마무리해야 제임스를 따라잡을 기회가 생긴다.
54홀 컷이 끝났고, 최종라운드는 상위 15개 팀과 무소속 9명의 선수들만 참가한다. 최종라운드 이후 개인 우승자와 최종 8개 팀이 결정되며, 2026 클래스 PGA Tour University 최종 랭킹이 확정된다. 상위 25명은 각각 PGA 투어(1순위), 콘퍼런스 투어(2-10순위), PGA 투어 아메리카스(11-25순위) 멤버십을 획득한다.
03Original (English) — PGA TOUR
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Oklahoma State junior Preston Stout, the No. 3-ranked amateur in the world, carded a 7-under 65 on Sunday and leads by one entering the final round of the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. The Cowboys are T4 on the team leaderboard, and Stout has a lead on the individual leaderboard over Arizona senior Filip Jakubcik (PGA TOUR University No. 8), Alabama sophomore William Jennings and Vanderbilt freshman Will Hartman, who share second at 10-under par.
Stout's two-year PGA TOUR University record started in June 2025, and in the last 12 months he has four collegiate victories, including his third straight win at the Big 12 Championship. He also won the Northeast Amateur and represented the United States at the Palmer Cup and Walker Cup, and he is poised to be one of the top-ranked players in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2027.
This year's race for No. 1 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2026 is still undetermined, as No. 1 Ben James (Virginia) and No. 2 Christiaan Maas (Texas) are tied for 22nd at 2 under. James started the week with a 61-point lead and still controls his own destiny, while Maas needs to finish better than solo seventh in order to have a chance to pass James and earn his PGA TOUR card as this year's No. 1 player.
Auburn continues to lead the team competition, led by juniors Josiah Gilbert (T5/-9) and Jackson Koivun (T7/-6). Koivun earned his PGA TOUR card last season via PGA TOUR University Accelerated and is eligible to accept membership at the end of the collegiate season.
Louisiana senior Malan Potgieter (PGA TOUR University No. 27) started Sunday T2 and had played his previous 91 consecutive holes without a bogey. His streak came to an end with a bogey on No. 12, his third hole, and he went on to card a third-round 79 to fall to T32 at 1 under. Playing as an individual, Potgieter missed the 54-hole cut and is no longer projected to move into the PGA TOUR University top 25.
After Sunday's third round, the field was cut to the low 15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team. Monday's final round will determine the individual national champion, as well as the eight teams that advance to match play.
After the final round of stroke play on Monday, June 1, the Class of 2026 PGA TOUR University Ranking will be finalized, with the top 25 players earning membership on the PGA TOUR (No. 1), Korn Ferry Tour (Nos. 2-10) or PGA TOUR Americas (Nos. 11-25).
Projections after third round of NCAA Championship
*Position considers 54-hole cut
In partnership with the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), PGA TOUR University ranks players based on the last two years of their collegiate careers. Eligible Tournaments include NCAA Division I men's team competitions, official PGA TOUR tournaments and select DP World Tour events. The Ranking Period for the Class of 2026 began Week 23/2024 and concludes June 1, 2026, following the final round of stroke play at the NCAA D-I Men's National Championship.
