AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn men's golf's quest for a national title begins at the NCAA Baton Rouge regional as the Tigers have been appointed the top seed at LSU's University Club in the NCAA Championship qualifier set for May 13-15.
Fourteen teams and five individuals will battle it out in the three-day stroke-play tournament for a ticket to the sport's biggest stage. The low five teams and low individual from a non-advancing team will receive bids to the National Championship at the Omni La Costa Champions Course, May 24-3291, in San Diego, California.
"Obviously we're super excited to be chosen as the overall No. 1 seed," Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said. "We've earned it. It wasn't given."
Auburn will begin Monday's round of competition playing alongside No. 12 Virginia and No. 14 Texas tech with the first tee time set for 8 a.m. CT. Spectators are welcome as attendance is free all three days of the regional.
Teeing off for the Tigers will be the same six that saw action three weeks ago at the SEC Championship — seniors J.M. Butler and Alex Vogelsong, juniors Carson Bacha and Brendan Valdes and freshmen Josiah Gilbert and Jackson Koivun. Vogelsong will begin the week as the sixth reserve player; however, postseason substitution rules will be in effect, allowing for the substitution of any individual into the lineup following the completion of a round.
In its 13 previous tournament berths under Clinard, Auburn has advanced to the NCAA Championship 10 times. Last season, the Orange & Blue fought through its own Auburn Regional to claim its spot at Grayhawk Golf Club and tie the third-best finish in program history at tenth overall. In 2018, Auburn recorded its first ever final four appearance before falling 3-2 in the national semifinals to eventual champion Oklahoma State.
The complete regional field in Baton Rouge this year includes No. 1 Auburn, No. 12 Virginia, No. 14 Texas Tech, No. 24 Oregon, No. 25 Duke, Ohio State, LSU, Louisville, Houston, South Carolina, Lipscomb, Yale, Loyola Maryland and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
