May 21, 2011
ERIE, Colo. - The 11th-ranked Auburn men's golf team carded a 6-over final round, slipping to eighth at the NCAA South Central Regional Saturday at the Colorado National Golf Club in Erie, Colo.
Sophomore Dominic Bozzelli (69-218) was the lone Tiger under par on Saturday, shooting three-under with a flawless scorecard that counted birdies on Nos. 1, 8 and 12. Sophomore Blayne Barber (73-212) and Niclas Carlsson (74-212) led the Tigers in a tie for ninth for their seventh and fourth top-10 finishes of the season, respectively.
Barber's showing earned him the most single-season top-10s since Kevin Haefner in 2001-02.
"Today wasn't our day," said Auburn head Nick Clinard. "It's definitely a disappointing finish after finishing in second after the first two rounds. As with everything, this was a learning experience for the team.
"We're young. We lose nobody following this year. I'm proud of the entire team for their focus and determination this season. They bring their heart and soul to the course and the practice facility every day of the week."
Bozzelli tied for 41st, overall, followed by sophomore Michael Hebert (78-223) in 58th and Kyle Kopsick (78-224) in 60th.
No. 1 Oklahoma State (282-833) topped the field shooting 31-under for the event, followed by NCAA Championship qualifiers Colorado State (279-851), Northwestern (276-855), No. 12 Georgia (287-857) and Arizona State (285-857).
Barber concluded his first season on The Plains with a 70.91 scoring average, second all-time at Auburn behind Buddy Gardner's 70.90 in 1976 and the lowest for any Auburn golfer in 34 years. Barber's 13 rounds in the 60s this season tie him for the most in a single season with former Tiger Patton Kizzire during his 2007 SEC Championship run. Barber also moves into third all-time at Auburn with 16 sub-par rounds this season.
Carlsson's 71.87 scoring average this season moves him into seventh all-time on The Plains while Hebert finished in 10th with a 71.97. Barber and Hebert tied for the most rounds at par or better this season with 18, apiece.
As a team, the Tigers picked up eight top-three finishes in 2010-11, the most in school history. Auburn picked up team wins at the 2010 Gary Koch, defeating then No. 1 Florida and No. 4 Alabama, as well as a playoff win over the Gators at the 2011 Chris Schenkel Invitational. The Tigers followed with a third team title at the Bluegrass Invitational. Clinard's Tigers also earned individual medalist honors with Carlsson winning the Pate at Barber besting the field at the 2010 Bridgestone Collegiate.
Auburn's team scoring average of 286.39 is the lowest for any Auburn team on record and is tied for second for most team wins in a single season.
TCU (287-858) claimed sixth followed by Clemson (289-859), Auburn, Chattanooga (285-863), San State (292-874), New Mexico State (295-878) and North Florida (295-863).
Oklahoma State's Kevin Tway (69-206) earned medalist honors at 10-under followed by Arizona State's Scott Pinckney (68-207).