ORLANDO, Fla. – Less than a week away from the start of the 2024-25 season, Auburn men’s golf was named the No. 1 team in the country via Golf Channel’s annual preseason rankings, the network announced Wednesday.
Carson Bacha, Josiah Gilbert, Jackson Koivun and Brendan Valdes were named preseason All-Americans. Koivun and Valdes were named to the first team. Bacha and Gilbert appear on the third team.
Last year, the Tigers pieced together one of the most magical runs in the history of the sport, racking up 10 team wins, including seven in a row that culminated in the program’s first NCAA Championship.
Auburn also won its fifth SEC title and third NCAA Regional title.
Following the season, Head coach Nick Clinard was named the Dave Williams DI National Coach of the Year, and assistant coach Chris Williams won the Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award.
Koivun and Valdes led the squad as GCAA First Team All-Americans. Both were also named First Team All-SEC. Koivun exploded onto the collegiate with an unprecedented season as an individual player, winning SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award, the Ben Hogan Award, the Jack Nicklaus Award and the Fred Haskins Award.
Bacha and Gilbert also proved crucial members of the team’s postseason push as they combined for six match wins at the SEC and NCAA Championships. Gilbert was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Auburn kickstarts its title defense Monday, Sept. 9 at the Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio.