MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Thanks to the third-lowest team round in program history, Auburn men's golf battled itself to its second team championship of the spring Monday at the General Hackler Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The Tigers saw a 16-stroke surge between rounds two and three, shooting 17-under in the final cycle to edge out a talented field for top honors. The win marks the 39th in school history under head coach Nick Clinard.
"Our guys played really well, but most importantly they competed," Clinard said. "They were fun to watch for myself and coach (Chris) Williams. We're starting to piece everything we've learned thus far together. When we're able to do that, we're going to be a really dangerous team."
𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗡! 🏆
— Auburn Men's Golf (@AuburnMGolf) March 14, 2022
• 61 total birdies
• -17 team round (T3 in school history)
• -8 round from Vo (T3 in school history)
• Team win No. 39 under coach Clinard#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/Smj7hNp6cv
Carrying the torch for the Tigers were underclassmen J.M. Butler and Evan Vo. The pair both recorded top-five finishes with final tallies of 10 and 11-under, respectively. The duo accounted for two of only three underclassmen to finish inside the tournament's top 10.
Vo obliterated his final 18 holes, firing an 8-under, 64 to tie The Dunes Golf Club course record. It is a tally that ranks top-three in the Auburn record books for lowest individual 18-hole score. The freshman out of Austin, Texas also led the 87-player field with 18 birdies through his three rounds.
"Evan is an extremely gifted young man," Clinard said. "He has the capability and firepower to be a big-time player at Auburn. He works diligently on his game, and I am very proud to see that hard work pay off."
Butler finished a single stroke behind teammate Vo, shooting 68-70-68 to notch the fifth top-10 outing of his last six appearances.
Auburn's individual golfer, Alex Vogelsong also played well throughout the event. The Palm City, Florida native finished tied for ninth thanks to a 6-under performance, his best score of the season.
The final trio in the Tiger lineup turned in triplicate scorecards. Austin Coggin, C.J. Easley and Brendan Valdes all shot 1-over, 217 over the two-day stretch to finish tied for 32nd place. Coggin posted the strongest final round, shooting 4-under, 68 to cut into a 5-over sum amassed through his first 36 holes.
Beating Vo by only one stroke, Oklahoma State's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen won individual honors at 12-under, 204. Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina finished second to the Tigers, three strokes back at 22-under, 842.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return to the Palmetto state once more, this time for the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate March 27 – 29, in Awendaw, South Carolina.
| Placement | Golfer | R1 | R2 | R3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 | Evan Vo | 71 (-1) | 70 (-2) | 64 (-8) | 205 (-11) |
| 4 | J.M. Butler | 68 (-4) | 70 (-2) | 68 (-4) | 206 (-10) |
| T9 | Alex Vogelsong (I) | 73 (+1) | 72 (E) | 66 (-6) | 211 (-5) |
| T32 | C.J. Easley | 74 (+2) | 71 (-1) | 72 (E) | 217 (+1) |
| T32 | Brendan Valdes | 69 (-3) | 77 (+5) | 71 (-1) | 217 (+1) |
| T32 | Austin Coggin | 73 (+1) | 76 (+4) | 68 (-4) | 217 (+1) |
| 1 | TEAM | 281 (-7) | 287 (-1) | 271 (-17) | 839 (-25) |
TEAM STANDINGS
1. No. 19 Auburn 839 (-25)
2. South Carolina 842 (-22)
3. ETSU 846 (-18)
4. No. 3 Oklahoma State 849 (-15)
5. Virginia 860 (-4)
T6. NC State 862 (-2)
T6. RV North Florida 862 (-2)
8. Kent State 863 (-1)
T9. RV Liberty 870 (+6)
T9. RV Louisville 870 (+6)
T11. East Carolina 874 (+10)
T11. Coastal Carolina 874 (+10)
13. UCF 879 (+15)
14. UNCG 881 (+17)
15. Penn State 886 (+22)