May 16, 2018
NCAA Norman Regional - Final Results
NORMAN, Okla. - A pair of clutch birdie putts by freshman Brandon Mancheno and junior Trace Crowe proved to be the difference as the No. 7 Auburn men's golf team advanced to the NCAA Championship following the final round of the NCAA Norman Regional Wednesday.
The Tigers move on to the NCAA Championship for the seventh consecutive season, something that has only been accomplished by three other programs in the nation.
Auburn shot -3 for the week at the Jimmie Austin OU Club and ended in a tie for fourth at the regional with No. 15 Arkansas. The Tigers finished one stroke better than sixth-place Florida State, who did not advance to the NCAA Championship.
"I'm really proud of our guys," head coach Nick Clinard said. "They really hung in there. We didn't have our best stuff this week. We weren't the best physically, but the guys persevered mentally all week and I'm just really proud of them."
Mancheno, who produced his best round of the week with a 69 (-3) Wednesday, stepped up and buried a birdie putt on the final hole of the round to put Auburn in a solid position as the final groups came into the clubhouse.
In those groups, Crowe managed to get within a couple feet on his second shot of the par-3 final hole and sunk his birdie putt to cap an even-par round and clinch a spot in the NCAA Championship for the Tigers.
Crowe was Auburn's top finisher as he tied for seventh overall, while Mancheno ended in a five-way tie for 21st that included senior Ben Schlottman.
Schlottman also carded an even-par 72 in his final tour of the course. He began the day with pars on 13 of his first 15 holes and also racked up a pair of birdies.
Freshman Wells Padgett finished tied for 39th after he turned in a 75 (+3), while sophomore Jovan Rebula tied for 44th following a final round score of 76 (+4).
No. 2 Oklahoma earned the regional championship at 850 (-14), followed by BYU (-13), North Florida (-13), Auburn (-3) and Arkansas (-3). Teams that did not advance to the NCAA Championship include Florida State (-2), Virginia (-1), Pepperdine (E), Nevada (+3), San Diego State (+6), UMKC (+17), Sam Houston State (+24), Navy (+57) and Prairie View A&M (+79).
The 2018 NCAA Championship is set to take place at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla., May 25-30.
Team Standings
1. Oklahoma - 850 (-14)
T-2. BYU - 851 (-13)
T-2. North Florida - 851 (-13)
T-4. Auburn - 861 (-3)
T-4. Arkansas - 861 (-3)
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6. Florida State - 862 (-2)
7. Virginia - 863 (-1)
8. Pepperdine - 864 (E)
9. Nevada - 867 (+3)
10. San Diego State - 870 (+6)
11. UMKC - 881 (+17)
12. Sam Houston State - 888 (+24)
13. Navy - 921 (+57)
14. Prairie View A&M - 943 (+79)
Auburn Individuals
T-7. Trace Crowe - 70-69-72--211 (-5)
T-21. Brandon Mancheno - 75-72-69--216 (E)
T-21. Ben Schlottman - 70-74-72--216 (E)
T-39. Wells Padgett - 73-73-75--221 (+5)
T-44. Jovan Rebula - 75-71-76--222 (+6)