May 29, 2018
STILLWATER, Okla. - The fifth-seeded Auburn men's golf team defeated fourth-seeded Oklahoma in the quarterfinals of match play at the NCAA Championships, 3-2, Tuesday morning.
The Tigers move on to the semifinals where top-seeded Oklahoma State, who defeated Texas A&M, awaits on its home course of Karsten Creek Golf Club. Matches are set to begin at 2:20 p.m. CT.
"We just wanted to play Auburn golf," head coach Nick Clinard said. "We had a nice experience in the SEC Championship. We happened to play match play there and win some matches. The guys were pretty fired up to play the defending national champions. They have a great team and we were lucky to come out on top."
Senior Ben Schlottman, junior Trace Crowe and freshman Brandon Mancheno picked up the three wins for Auburn, who started from the 10th tee. Sophomore Jovan Rebula and freshman Wells Padgett fell in their respective matches.
Schlottman earned the first point of the duel for Auburn when he won his match with a commanding 5&4 result. The Advance, N.C. native took advantage on the fourth hole of the match and never looked back. He won five of the next eight holes to extend the lead up to six before clinching the match on the 14th hole.
Crowe won a back-and-forth decision in the No. 2 slot, 1-up. The Bluffton, S.C. native fell behind on the first hole, but battled back to take over the lead just two holes later. Crowe was able to push his margin to two on the front nine and clinched the match on the final hole with a par.
Mancheno was unable to gain an advantage until the seventh hole when he bested Grant Hirschman, who turned in a double bogey. The Jacksonville, Fla. native never lost the lead from that point on and earned the victory on the 17th hole, sending Auburn to the semifinals.
"It was a good match," Mancheno said. "Hirschman played really well. I just made a couple of more birdies than he did. He put it on me at the end and forced me a make a birdie here to win."
Duke and Alabama won their respective matches and get the semifinals underway at 1:30 p.m. CT. Auburn and Oklahoma State open play off the first tee at 2:20 p.m.
The Golf Channel will provide live coverage 3-7 p.m. with live scoring available at Golfstat.com.
2018 NCAA Championships Quarterfinals - Match Play
(5) Auburn 3, (4) Oklahoma 2
Blaine Hale (OU) def. Jovan Rebula (AU), 4&3
Trace Crowe (AU) def. Quade Cummings (OU), 1-up
Ben Schlottman (AU) def. Garett Rebrand (OU), 5&4
Brandon Mancheno (AU) def. Grant Hirschman (OU), 3&1
Brad Dalke (OU) def. Wells Padgett (AU), 4&3
Quarterfinal Matches
(1) Oklahoma State def. (8) Texas A&M, 3-1-1
(5) Auburn def. (4) Oklahoma, 3-2
(6) Alabama def. (3) Texas Tech, 3-2
(2) Duke def. (7) Texas, 3-2
Semifinal Matches
(2) Duke vs. (6) Alabama - 1:30 p.m. CT
(1) Oklahoma State vs. (5) Auburn - 2:20 p.m. CT