May 15, 2017
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 19 Auburn men's golf team shot a 4-over 292 and is in a three-way tie for fifth with No. 5 Florida and host Purdue after a tight NCAA West Lafayette, Ind., Regional first round on Monday at the Kampen Course.
Auburn is only five shots off the lead by No. 17 UNLV at 1-under 287 followed by No. 8 Illinois and New Mexico in a tie for second at even par and South Carolina in fourth at 3-over.
The top five teams and one individual not on those teams qualify for the 121st NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., May 26-31.
Auburn fired a 2-under score on the front, its inward nine, after making the turn at 6-over.
Freshman Jovan Rebula and sophomore Trace Crowe led the Tigers as they are tied for 14th at even par 72. Rebula, the nephew of PGA Tour legend Ernie Els, carded three of his four birdies on the front on Nos. 2, 7 and 8 while Crowe birdied Nos. 4 and 10.
"We had kind of a slow start in the middle of the round, but this golf course is all about patience," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "It is tough. You can lose a ball five yards outside the fairway because the rough is thick.
"The guys hung in there and did well coming down the stretch. We played our 18th hole, which is No. 9, very well considering it is a 480-yard par-4 into the wind."
Sophomore Jacob Solomon and senior Matt Gilchrest are tied for 29th with a pair of 74s while senior Ryan Benton is tied for 73rd with an 83. On his final hole, Gilchrest sank a 25-foot birdie putt from the edge of the 9th green to put the Tigers within the cutline. Solomon had three birdies at Nos. 2, 8 and 15.
"It is positive," said Clinard on the positive finish for carryover into Tuesday. "We have five good players. We are looking forward to getting out and competing. It is all about having the right mindset, and we will be ready to go."
Saint Mary's is in eighth at 6-over 294 followed by Augusta (296), Richmonnd (297), Colorado (304), Campbell (306) and Cleveland State (310).
Auburn will tee off in Tuesday's second round of the three round NCAA Regional at 8 am ET with South Carolina and No. 5 Florida.
UNLV's John Oda holds the individual lead with a 5-under 67.
Auburn is one of seven teams in the nation … Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas and Southern California the others … who have made at least five-straight NCAA Championship appearances.
Live-scoring can be followed at Golfstat.com.