TOLEDO, Ohio – No. 1 Auburn men’s golf opened the 2024-25 season with a second-place finish Tuesday at the Inverness Intercollegiate, shooting a three-round total of 2-over 830 to officially end its win streak at seven tournaments, the second-longest streak in NCAA history.
Reigning National Player of the Year Jackson Koivun picked up where he left off last season as he earned medalist honors with an impressive 9-under week on the course.
“We weren’t good enough this week,” Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said. “It was a tough course and a tough field, but that’s what we want. Challenges make us better. We’ve got to be able to finish stronger and play smarter golf down the stretch if we want to win these high-level tournaments on our schedule this season.”
Koivun shot 63-65-70 and matched five bogeys with 14 total birdies to secure his third career win by two shots. He has now finished inside the top five in 12 of 14 career starts.
“It’s great to start of the season with an individual win in a tough field,” Koivun said. “It stings a bit to not be able to hold on to the team win, but I know that will motivate us to get back home and go to work.”
Senior Brendan Valdes snuck inside the top 20 with a 3-over week. He shot 72-68-70. Senior Ryan Eshleman finished a shot higher than Valdes with a 73-70-68 performance. As the predetermined individual player, the Tigers were not permitted to count Eshleman toward the team score.
One stroke back of Eshleman was sophomore Josiah Gilbert who finished at 5-over with a 67-72-73 tournament. Senior Carson Bacha wrapped his season debut at 7-over (70-72-72). Junior Reed Lotter rounded out the Orange & Blue contingent, shooting 71-74-70, 9-over.
A final-round surge of 6-under saw No. 6 Virginia overtake the Tigers for the team win.
Up next, Auburn returns home to fine-tune itself before making the trip to San Antonio, Texas, for the Valero Texas Collegiate at TPC San Antonio on Sept. 21-23.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. No. 6 Virginia (-2)
2. No. 1 Auburn (+2)
T3. No. 4 Vanderbilt (+3)
T3. No. 12 Oklahoma (+3)
5. No. 15 Texas Tech (+5)
6. SMU (+12)
7. College of Charleston (+13)
8. Wake Forest (+22)
9. Toledo (+23)
10. Purdue (+24)
11. Louisville (+32)
12. Clemson (+33)
13. Cal Poly (+34)
14. Michigan (+45)