Oklahoma senior Ryder Cowan earned consensus preseason first-team All-American honors in men's golf, landing recognition from both Golfweek and Golf Channel after one of the top seasons in program history.
The Edmond native is one of four SEC golfers to receive consensus first-team preseason honors from both outlets, OU Athletics announced Sept. 1. Cowan enters the 2026-27 season ranked No. 7 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Golf Channel listed Cowan at No. 4 on its preseason first-team All-American list and placed the Sooners at No. 15 in the national team rankings.
Cowan's 2025-26 season
Cowan played all 43 rounds in the Oklahoma lineup last season and posted a team-low 70.12 scoring average, 1.26 strokes under par. That mark is the third-lowest single-season average in program history, according to OU Athletics.
He recorded 10 top-20 finishes, including six top-10s, four top-five finishes and two individual victories. At the Ka'anapali Classic, Cowan tied a school record with a 20-under-par 268. He shared medalist honors at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational.
Those results earned him second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors for 2025-26. He finished the season ranked No. 14 nationally.
Cowan's summer results
Cowan shared low-amateur honors at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur. He represented Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup, finished runner-up at the Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship and competed in the 3M Open on the PGA Tour.
Before the college season begins, Cowan will represent the United States at the Walker Cup on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6, at Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland.
What's ahead for the Sooners
Oklahoma opens the 2026-27 season under first-year head coach Jonathan Moore. The Sooners added transfer Cayse Morgan, the reigning Big East champion from Xavier, as their top newcomer, according to Golf Channel.
Cowan was also named to the Fred Haskins Award preseason watch list, which recognizes the top male Division I collegiate golfer each year.
The Sooners open Sept. 13 at the Inverness Intercollegiate at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.
