Per Brentley Romine of NBC Sports:
Championship info: April 22-24, Whispering Pines Golf Club, Trinity, Texas
Recent champions: Oklahoma (2023), Oklahoma (2022), Oklahoma State (2021), Oklahoma State (2019), Oklahoma (2018), Texas (2017), Texas (2016), Texas (2015), Texas (2014)
Team rankings: Texas (13), Oklahoma (15), Texas Tech (21), Baylor (24), Oklahoma State (41), TCU (49), BYU (52), Cincinnati (56), Iowa State (69), Houston (72), Kansas State (75), Kansas (87), West Virginia (94), UCF (157)
Pick to win: Oklahoma
WOMEN
Championship info: April 18-20, Houston Oaks, Hockley, Texas
Recent champions: Oklahoma State (2023), Texas (2022), Oklahoma State (2021), Texas (2019), Texas (2018), Texas (2017), Oklahoma State (2016), Baylor (2015), Oklahoma (2014)
Team rankings: Texas (8), UCF (13), Houston (27), Oklahoma State (38), Kansas (46), Iowa State (51), Texas Tech (52), Oklahoma (56), Kansas State (58), Baylor (62), TCU (79), BYU (91), Cincinnati (155)
Midseason All-Conference Team: Molly Smith, UCF (14); Lauren Kim, Texas (21); Farah O’Keefe, Texas (23); Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Oklahoma State (28); Bohyun Park, Texas (48)
What to watch: The addition of four teams has added a couple of contenders in the Big 12 in UCF and Houston. The Knights enjoyed one of their best seasons in program history last year yet fell short of a third NCAA Championship appearance – and first since 2019. Smith and Oregon transfer Brittany Shin have bolstered UCF’s depth, with the freshman Smith (one win, three other top-13s) putting together a stellar first semester. Sandwich Sisutham could have four top-10s if not for a final-round DQ at the Mercedes-Benz, where UCF still managed to win for one of two fall team triumphs. The Cougars haven’t gone anywhere now a couple years removed from head coach Gerrod Chadwell’s departure for Texas A&M. Houston won its fall opener, the Sam Golden, and its star sophomore Moa Svedenskiold had three top-10s in the fall. ... Texas, though, remains the conference favorite. The Longhorns have made match play at national in three of the past four championships, including last year when Texas finished second in stroke play. Much of that squad returned this season, though it’s been two freshmen who have led the way so far – Kim (Stephens Cup winner) and O’Keefe (two top-5s). As a team, Texas was probably one poor final round at Stanford away from being ranked in the top five. … Oklahoma State surprised many by upsetting Texas and Baylor at last year’s Big 12 Championship, and as long as Hinson-Tolchard (two top-10s in fall) is still around, there’s a chance for a repeat. It’s just no finishes better than fifth in the fall is concerning. … Now in her third season, Kansas head coach Lindsay Kuhle is continuing to build a Big 12 contender. After a T-8 regional finish last year, the Jayhawks were runner-up to Pepperdine at New Mexico’s event to open the fall. Throw out a 13th at the Mercedes-Benz is this team could make a run at nationals this spring. … Iowa State got four T-14s from its star player, Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn, but it still couldn’t finish better than ninth in four fall tournaments. Even with most of last year’s roster back, there are some serious depth concerns. … While Iowa State’s fall performance was surprising, nothing could’ve predicted this from Baylor – 12th, 14th and 12th before finally winning the Rainbow Wahine in Hawaii, with the latter being the weakest field the Beard saw in the fall by far.
Pick to win: UCF
Big 12
MENChampionship info: April 22-24, Whispering Pines Golf Club, Trinity, Texas
Recent champions: Oklahoma (2023), Oklahoma (2022), Oklahoma State (2021), Oklahoma State (2019), Oklahoma (2018), Texas (2017), Texas (2016), Texas (2015), Texas (2014)
Team rankings: Texas (13), Oklahoma (15), Texas Tech (21), Baylor (24), Oklahoma State (41), TCU (49), BYU (52), Cincinnati (56), Iowa State (69), Houston (72), Kansas State (75), Kansas (87), West Virginia (94), UCF (157)
Pick to win: Oklahoma
WOMEN
Championship info: April 18-20, Houston Oaks, Hockley, Texas
Recent champions: Oklahoma State (2023), Texas (2022), Oklahoma State (2021), Texas (2019), Texas (2018), Texas (2017), Oklahoma State (2016), Baylor (2015), Oklahoma (2014)
Team rankings: Texas (8), UCF (13), Houston (27), Oklahoma State (38), Kansas (46), Iowa State (51), Texas Tech (52), Oklahoma (56), Kansas State (58), Baylor (62), TCU (79), BYU (91), Cincinnati (155)
Midseason All-Conference Team: Molly Smith, UCF (14); Lauren Kim, Texas (21); Farah O’Keefe, Texas (23); Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Oklahoma State (28); Bohyun Park, Texas (48)
What to watch: The addition of four teams has added a couple of contenders in the Big 12 in UCF and Houston. The Knights enjoyed one of their best seasons in program history last year yet fell short of a third NCAA Championship appearance – and first since 2019. Smith and Oregon transfer Brittany Shin have bolstered UCF’s depth, with the freshman Smith (one win, three other top-13s) putting together a stellar first semester. Sandwich Sisutham could have four top-10s if not for a final-round DQ at the Mercedes-Benz, where UCF still managed to win for one of two fall team triumphs. The Cougars haven’t gone anywhere now a couple years removed from head coach Gerrod Chadwell’s departure for Texas A&M. Houston won its fall opener, the Sam Golden, and its star sophomore Moa Svedenskiold had three top-10s in the fall. ... Texas, though, remains the conference favorite. The Longhorns have made match play at national in three of the past four championships, including last year when Texas finished second in stroke play. Much of that squad returned this season, though it’s been two freshmen who have led the way so far – Kim (Stephens Cup winner) and O’Keefe (two top-5s). As a team, Texas was probably one poor final round at Stanford away from being ranked in the top five. … Oklahoma State surprised many by upsetting Texas and Baylor at last year’s Big 12 Championship, and as long as Hinson-Tolchard (two top-10s in fall) is still around, there’s a chance for a repeat. It’s just no finishes better than fifth in the fall is concerning. … Now in her third season, Kansas head coach Lindsay Kuhle is continuing to build a Big 12 contender. After a T-8 regional finish last year, the Jayhawks were runner-up to Pepperdine at New Mexico’s event to open the fall. Throw out a 13th at the Mercedes-Benz is this team could make a run at nationals this spring. … Iowa State got four T-14s from its star player, Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn, but it still couldn’t finish better than ninth in four fall tournaments. Even with most of last year’s roster back, there are some serious depth concerns. … While Iowa State’s fall performance was surprising, nothing could’ve predicted this from Baylor – 12th, 14th and 12th before finally winning the Rainbow Wahine in Hawaii, with the latter being the weakest field the Beard saw in the fall by far.
Pick to win: UCF
