By Kent Gray
Rickie Fowler was among the first to congratulate Rayhan Thomas as the Dubai-based amateur confirmed the next chapter of his seemingly inevitable rise to golf’s professional ranks.
The 18-year-old Indian took to social media on Sunday to confirm his long held ambition to play collegiate golf in the U.S. And what a team he’s been courted by and verbally committed too.
Oklahoma State University is among the most decorated schools in U.S golf with 10 national championships and one of the most dominant forces in the modern era thanks to names such as world No.7 Fowler who responded to Thomas’ Instagram announcement:.
“@ray_jthomas congrats bud and look forward to seeing you in Stilly!”
The OSU Cowboys won the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Championship in May. Among its other famed alumni are Charles Howell III, Bob and Kevin Away, Peter Uihlein, Hunter Mayhan, Bo Van Pelt, Scott Verplank, Morgan Hoffmann, Alex Noren and Brian Watts who was runner-up in the 1998 Open Championship. Verplank (1986), Watts (1987) and Howell (2000) won individual national titles as Cowboys.
Thomas, the world amateur No.22 who qualified No.1 for the International team for the Junior Presidents Cup earlier this year, isn’t expected to line-up for the Cowboys until 2019.
