AUBURN, Ala. – No. 2 Auburn men's golf captured its second consecutive team title Tuesday at AU Club's Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner, shooting 16-over 880 to edge out its nearest competitor by 15 strokes.
Senior J.M. Butler earned individual medalist honors at 2-over 218.
"Such a tough test out there this week," Auburn head coach Nick Clinard said. "Our guys handled some adversity on the course for sure. They knew it wasn't going to be easy going in, but they battled. Our fight will serve us well as we look to close out the spring on top."
The win marks the Tigers' fifth as a team this season, matching the school record set in 1996-97 and tied last year (2022-23). Butler's individual title is the second of his career. His first came at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate in September of 2021.
"My goal from the beginning of the week was to win," Butler said. "This course is tough, and my teammates are even tougher, but it's a blessing to be able to compete with and against them every day."
Five Tigers finished the tournament with top-15 placements. Auburn's "B" team finished in fifth at 39-over.
Freshman phenom Jackson Koivun continued his hot streak with a second-place showing. He finished one shot shy of teammate Butler at 3-over. Junior Brendan Valdes finished tied for third at 4-over and redshirt-junior Carson Bacha earned sixth place at 6-over.
Butler, Koivun, Valdes and Bacha were all named to the 2024 Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Other Tigers in the top 20 included redshirt-junior Ryan Eshleman in a tie for 13th (+9), freshman Josiah Gilbert in 17th (+10) and sophomore Reed Lotter in a tie for 18th (+11).
Freshman Cayden Pope shot +13. Fifth year Alex Vogelsong shot +18. Graduate student Hal Dove finished at +22. Senior Max Johnson wrapped things at +23 as the individual player.
In Monday's first round, three Tigers posted the low score with a trio of 71s (-1). Butler made birdie on 4, 7, 9 and 11 to preserve his 71. Koivun erased four of his own bogeys with birdies on 1, 11, 12 and 13, and Valdes made just one bogey on 9 but used a pair of birdies on 3 and 16 to get back below par.
Auburn's "A" group posted a 10-over 298 in the first set of 18. Also contributing toward the score were Bacha and Pope with 78s (+6). Eshleman shot 80 (+8) and was the drop score.
Other than Butler, Auburn "B" was led by Gilbert with a 75 (+3) and Lotter with a 76 (+4). Vogelsong finished one back of Lotter, at 77 (+5), and Dove had the drop score with an 80 (+8). Overall, the "B" team shot 11-over 299 in the first round, which was good for third best.
Johnson carded an 83 (+11) in his first outing as the individual.
In round two, Auburn "A" was the only team to deliver a subpar performance as the Tigers chipped into their total with a 4-under 284. Valdes and Bacha struck with the 1-2 punch as the duo carded a pair of 70s (-2).
Both men bogeyed just twice and made four birdies to lower their respective scores. Valdes birdied 1, 6, 13 and 16. Bacha found his on holes 4, 7, 12 and 16.
Eshleman was the other team member to shoot his second round below par. The Birmingham, Alabama product turned in a steady round that consisted of 15-straight pars. He bogeyed 10 but bounced back with birdies on the following two holes for a 71 (-1).
A costly double on 14 saw Koivun shoot 73 (+1) to round out the "A" team's second round contributors. Pope shot 76 (+4) and had the drop score.
For the "B" group, it was Butler who once again posted the best score. The Louisville, Kentucky native made birdie six times, on holes 2, 4, 7, 8, 12 and 16 for a 70 (-2).
Also for the second team, Gilbert shot 76 (+4), Lotter shot 77 (+5), Dove shot 80 (+8) and Vogelsong had the drop score at 82 (+10). Individual player Johnson turned in an impressive 71 (-1) with the help of six birdies.
Auburn's top scorers in the final round were Lotter, Eshleman and Bacha. All three carded 74s (+2). Pope, Koivun, Gilbert and Vogelsong each shot 75 (+3). Butler shot 77 (+5), Dove shot 78 (+6) and Valdes shot 79 (+7). Johnson shot 85 (+13).
Next up, the Tigers take a few weeks to rest and recover before jumping into the Seahawk Intercollegiate March 24-25 at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina.
2024 Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team
J.M. Butler - Auburn
Jackson Koivun - Auburn
Claes Borregaard - Kennesaw State
Austin Cherichella - FGCU
Brendan Valdes - Auburn
Carson Bacha - Auburn
Joe Sullivan - FGCU
Philip Bondestad - East Carolina
