WILMINGTON, N.C. – No. 1 Auburn men's golf is in second place with a 575 (-1) following Monday's 36-holes of action at The Williams Cup presented by STITCH at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina. Upperclassmen J.M. Butler and Brendan Valdes lead Auburn's lineup as both players are tied for third place at 2-under.
Heading into Tuesday's finale, Auburn trails the host team, No. 2 North Carolina, by 15 shots. The Tigers have a 10-shot lead on third place, No. 6 Arizona State.
"We didn't have our best today, but you're never going to be on your A-plus game every time you step out there," Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said. "I'll be looking for some adjustments with how we read and adapt to the speed and roll off the greens as well as our ball control with our irons. If we can tidy those areas up, we'll be in good shape."
In the opening round, Auburn carded 290 (+2). Both Butler and Valdes produced 71s (-1) as the lineup's low scorers. Butler made two bogeys but fought his way to a below-par finish with a clean back nine that featured birdies on 10, 12 and 17. Valdes bogeyed three times and even made a double on 8 but responded with six birdies of his own to combat the mistakes. Five of the junior's six birdies came in a row on holes 10-14.
Rounding out the team players were Alex Vogelsong and Reed Lotter at 74 (+4) and Jackson Koivun with a 76 (+4). Auburn finished the first 18 holes in third place, trailing both the Tar Heels and Sun Devils.
In the second 18, Auburn improved and shot 285 (-3) to jump Arizona State and snag second place. Butler and Valdes delivered as the top golfers of the lineup once again with two more 71s.
"All that matters is what's next," Butler said. "We are just looking forward to tomorrow. Today's mistakes don't matter. We're going to come out ready to make a push. It will be another great test."
Koivun bounced back from his early 76 with a 71 of his own in the middle round. He started off his front and back half with early bogeys on 1, 2 and 11 but buckled down and found some clutch birdies on 4, 5, 16 and 18 to chip away at his total. Koivun sits just inside the individual top-20, at 18th, ahead of Tuesday's home stretch.
Sophomore Lotter is another Tiger player in the top 20. Lotter ranks tied for 16th following an even-par 72 to close the day. Vogelsong capped his afternoon with a 76 (+4).
Auburn's individual players, senior Ryan Eshleman and freshman Josiah Gilbert, are two more men to keep an eye on. In just the second tournament of his collegiate career, Gilbert is tied for 10th after carding a 144 (E) by way of a 71-73 day.
"I played really good and grounded well all day," Gilbert said. "I'm really proud of the whole team and the way we all fought today. We're just ready to go get after it again tomorrow."
Eshleman follows Gilbert by four strokes. He shot 71-77 for a 148 (+4).
Auburn plays with UNC and ASU once more in the final round. Vogelsong kickstarts 10-minute tee intervals beginning at 8:20 a.m. CT.
Auburn Players
T3. Brendan Valdes (-2)
T3. J.M. Butler (-2)
T16. Reed Lotter (+2)
18. Jackson Koivun (+3)
T26. Alex Vogelsong (+6)
Auburn Individuals
T10. Josiah Gilbert (E)
T19. Ryan Eshleman (+4)
Team Leaderboard
1.#2 North Carolina (-16)
2. #1 Auburn (-1)
3. #6 Arizona State (+9)
T4. RV North Florida (+16)
T4. NC State (+16)
T4. Missouri (+16)
7. Louisville (+19)
8. #17 Florida (+20)
9. UNCW (+35)
10. Elon (+42)
