AUBURN, Ala. – Led by sophomore Brendan Valdes, No. 13 Auburn men's golf finished Monday's round of regional competition at Auburn University Club in a tie for third place at 292 (+4).
Valdes delivered the lineup's low score thanks to a tied-third, 2-under 70 outing. With 22 total, Valdes stands just two subpar rounds from tying the program's single season record of 24, set by Michael Johnson (2011-16) during the 2015-16 season.
"Every single shot you hit out here requires you to really grind and think on it," Valdes said. "Whatever the course gave me is what I was trying to get from it. It's certainly a challenge, but we just have to know we've played out here before and if we keep grinding no matter what happens, we'll be all right."
After making an early bogey on 2, Valdes responded immediately by making his sixth eagle of the season on 3. The Orlando, Florida native caught fire during the middle of the round and played holes 8-13 at 5-under with five birdies to fall to 4-under overall. A pair of bogeys on 14 and 17 would lock up the 70.
Following Valdes was junior Carson Bacha who finished at 73 (+1). Bacha made 15 pars, two bogeys and a birdie on 15. Junior J.M. Butler finished a shot higher at 74 (+2). Through 13, Butler was 5-over, but the Louisville, Kentucky product finished strong and birdied 14, 15 and 17 to chip three off his score.
Senior Alex Vogelsong and freshman Reed Lotter closed out the Orange & Blue's contingent with a pair of 3-over 75s. Vogelsong shot 36-39 while Lotter saw 38 on the front and a 37 on the back.
"This is a tough course," Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said. "It's a good test. We were playing alongside two of the best teams in the country and it was a battle. I thought we hung in there all day and showed a lot of resilience. We hit a few looser shots than we typically hit, but that's expected. It comes with the nerves. Once we relax and be who we are, we'll get rolling."
To clinch its ticket to the 2023 NCAA Championship, Auburn will need to finish the regional as a top five team. The Tigers currently stand three strokes ahead of the cutline.
For Tuesday's middle 18, Auburn will once again tee off from the first hole at 8 a.m. CT. The Tigers will play with Chattanooga and Colorado State.
| Placement | Golfer | R1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| T3rd | Brendan Valdes | 70 (-2) | 70 (-2) |
| T15th | Carson Bacha | 73 (+1) | 73 (+1) |
| T26th | J.M. Butler | 74 (+2) | 74 (+2) |
| T34th | Reed Lotter | 75 (+3) | 75 (+3) |
| T34th | Alex Vogelsong | 75 (+3) | 75 (+3) |
| T3rd | TEAM | 292 (+4) | 292 (+4) |
TEAM STANDINGS:
1.Chattanooga 283 (-5)
2. No. 24 Colorado State 285 (-3)
T3. No. 13 Auburn 292 (+4)
T3. TCU 292 (+4)
T5. No. 1 Vanderbilt 294 (+6)
T5. No. 25 Ohio State 294 (+6)
T7. Indiana 297 (+9)
T7. Washington 297 (+9)
T7. No. 12 Tennessee 297 (+9)
10. Houston 300 (+12)
11. Marquette 301 (+13)
12. Augusta 313 (+25)
13. Siena 318 (+30)