Sophomore J.M. Butler notches third-place individual finish
The Auburn men’s golf team is in the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2019.
The Tigers easily made it through the Norman Regional with a second-place finish behind No. 1 seed Oklahoma.
It’s the 25th time in school history and ninth time in coach Nick Clinard’s tenure that the men’s golf team has reached the national championship.
The Tigers shot 280-276-292 (848) to advance through the regional in second place at 16-under. In addition to Oklahoma (838) and Auburn, Ole Miss (849/-15), Texas (852/-12) and No. 9 seed Utah (860/-4).
The tournament was played at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.
“Earning a spot to the NCAA Championship just solidifies what we’ve known all along – that we are a great team and our guys can hold their own against anyone in the country,” Clinard told Auburntigers.com.\
Auburn finishes 2nd behind Oklahoma at Norman Regional
“This is a direct result of all the hard work our team has put in going back to the fall and even previous years, and I am extremely proud of all that they have accomplished thus far. We’re looking forward to showing the nation just how talented our young group is when we step on the course at Grayhawk.”
Sophomore J.M. Butler led the Tigers with an individual third-place finish at 9-under 207 that tied the school record by tying the second-highest finish by an Auburn golfer at NCAA regionals. Jimmy Green holds the record with a win in the 1990 regional.
It was the ninth time in 10 tournaments that Butler has recorded a top-15 finish, including six in the top five.
Freshman Brendan Valdes tied for fifth at 6-under 210, one of only two freshmen to finish in the top 10.
Sophomore Carson Bacha also broke par for the Tigers, finishing at 1-under 215.
Auburn and Oklahoma were the only two teams to have at least three men finish below even (216).
Returning to NCAA action for the second time in his career, junior Alex Vogelsong shot 1-over 217 and SEC All-Freshman Team selection Evan Vo finished the regional at 70over 223.
The NCAA Tournament begins May 27 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Auburn women’s team is playing in the national championship this week, also at Grayhawk.
Featured image courtesy of Auburn Athletics
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