Eshleman sets program record, Tigers grab lead to open Maui Jim Intercollegiate

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Auburn men's golf junior Ryan Eshleman carded a 10-under par 60 Friday to lead the individual field and smash the program record for 18-hole score as the Tigers also grabbed the team lead to open the year at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate at The Mirabel Club.
 
"Super special day for the team and for myself," Eshleman said. "I'm thrilled with how I played. I felt great with the putter and hit a lot of good tee shots and wedges. I'm very thankful to do it all while representing the Auburn name. Whenever you earn a place in history, especially with this program, it means absolutely everything. We've still got a lot of work to do and goals to achieve, so we'll be ready to keep our feet on the gas tomorrow morning."
 
Eshleman matched a single bogey with 11 birdies to en route to claiming the feat. Auburn's previous solo round record was held jointly by Kyle Kopsick and Trace Crowe, who both shot 9-under par in 2009 and 2018, respectively.

𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕 6️⃣0️⃣

The lowest 18-hole score in program history belongs to @Ryanesh24 🙌#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/Xa4mTxJSLp

— Auburn Men's Golf (@AuburnMGolf) September 9, 2022

At 22 strokes below par, the Tigers sit 10 shots ahead of second place Oregon. Auburn's total score breaks yet another school record, the lowest solo round by a team, besting the previous 14-year-old mark by three strokes.
 
"Today, we started off the tournament and the year on the right foot, and that was really encouraging to see," Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said. "It is a testament to the talent and hard work of our guys. There is still a lot of golf to be played, so we must remain focused on what we came here to accomplish. Ryan had an amazing performance today, and I would not be surprised if any of the other six were to do something similar in the rounds to follow. We're all ready to get back after it again tomorrow."
 
Also having a career day, junior Carson Bacha set a new personal low at 6-under 64. Bacha began the day by making birdie on his opening trio of holes. The York, Pennsylvania product matched a pair of bogeys with five more birdies to finish the round top-five on the player leaderboard.
 
Sophomore Evan Vo and senior Alex Vogelsong chipped in a 65 (-5) and 69 (-1), respectively, to contribute to the Tiger total. For Vogelsong, the round marks his 18th career outing in the 60s.
 
Defending Maui Jim Intercollegiate champion J.M. Butler opened his junior campaign with a 72 (+2).
 
At Desert Mountain, Tigers individual golfers Frankie Harris and Brendan Valdes posted another pair of solid performances. In his collegiate debut, Harris shot 71 (-1) while Valdes birdied holes 13 through 16 to card a 67 (-5).
 
 For the middle round of play at Mirabel, Auburn will be paired with ETSU and Wake Forest and will lead off with Eshleman on hole 10 at 11:40 a.m. CT.
 
At the Maui Jim Individual, all players will begin the second round in a shotgun start at 10 a.m. CT before playing through the final 18 holes later the same afternoon.