No. 8 Auburn men’s golf advances to 5th straight NCAA Championship
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (auburntigers.com) – The No. 8 Auburn men’s golf team saved its best round for last advancing to its fifth consecutive NCAA Championship with a final round 5-under at Ol’ Colony Golf Course on Wednesday. Auburn finished fifth with a three-day 3-over 867 while three Tigers finished in the top 14.
The Tigers, who are one of five teams in the nation to qualify for five straight NCAA Championships, had four under par rounds along with an even par. Florida State, Georgia, USC and Texas are the others.
No. 5 Georgia led from start to finish with a 15-under 284-282-282—848 followed by No. 17 South Carolina (287-282-283—852), No. 19 Alabama (292-284-281—857), Kentucky (288-287-283—858) and No. 8 Auburn (294-290-283—867). UNLV (290-303-282—875) finished eight shots off the cutline, falling short of advancing.
“It feels really good,” said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. “We have made it five years in a row and only five schools have been able to do that in the whole country. Hats off to the kids. They deserve this. They have worked hard. We have a great team. We’ve had a great year and are ready to head west.”
Junior Will Long, who was not in the lineup in the two months prior, tied for 10th in his first regional appearance with a 1-under 73-71-71—215. The Gastonia, N.C., native, who was co-medalist of the U.S. Collegiate Championship in October, had three birdies and a pair of bogeys in his second straight under par round.
““It feels awesome,” said Long. “This was our main goal to get through here. You can’t win a national championship without getting through the regionals. We did part one. Hopefully, we make match play. That is our main goal. Anything can happen then.
“I hit the ball well. I made a lot of putts. I am pleased with how I played this week.”
First-team All-SEC Michael Johnson and Freshman All-SEC Jacob Solomon tied for 14th at even par. Johnson, a Ben Hogan Award and Jack Nicklaus Award semifinalist, had a 69-76-71—216. The Birmingham, Ala., native had six final round birdies, opening with two-straight along with Nos. 7 and 9 to turn at 3-under. He made a birdie on the 18th after hitting his drive in the woods.
Solomon played his final two rounds 4-under with a pair of 70s as he birdied three of his last five holes on Wednesday. The Dublin, Calif., native notched a pair of birdies on the front as well.
“It feels really special,” said Solomon. “Since I am a freshman, this is what we have played for all season. We accomplished our goal, and it is all good.”
All-American Ben Schlottman fired a 71 to tie for 30th at 76-74-71—221 as he eagled the par 4 second hole and made two birdies. All-SEC Matt Gilchrest had an even par final round as he tied for 36that 76-75-72—223. The Southlake, Texas, native’s solid round included 16 pars, a birdie and bogey.
“We have been a great final round team all year,” said Clinard. “This is a great five. Great camaraderie, and they are great players. I was really pleased today coming down the stretch on 17 and 18 and all five guys were even par or better.”
College of Charleston (298-295-294—887) finished seventh ahead of Colorado (296-306-288—890), Lipscomb (302-300-288—890), Kansas (308-301-305—914), Charleston Southern (315-310-291—916), Harvard (323-298-301—922) and Southern Illinois (314-308-301—923).
Georgia’s Greyson Sigg was the medalist at 9-under 68-71-68–207, a shot ahead of South Carolina’s Matthew NeSmith (70-70-68—208). The College of Charleston’s William Raney, who finished two shots back in third, will advance to the NCAA Championship as the low individual not on an advancing team.
The Tigers return to action at the 120th NCAA Men’s Golf Championship in Eugene, Ore., at The Eugene Country Club May 27-June 1.
