AUBURN, Ala. – The nation’s top-seeded golf team, No. 1 Auburn, begins its quest for back-to-back national titles this week, May 12-14, at the NCAA Auburn Regional at Auburn University Club.
“We’re looking forward to being at home on familiar grounds and knowing we’ve had success there in the past,” Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said. “It’s exciting to compete on a hard golf course. You can’t fake it around this place. You have to hit good shots, and you have to play smart to put up a good score.
“I’m going to let the horses run a little bit. The guys know what they have to do. They understand the moment, and they understand that pressure is a privilege.”
The regional serves as a qualifier for the 2025 NCAA Championship as the top five teams in all six host sites will punch their tickets to the sport's biggest stage and compete for a national championship May 23-28 at the Omni La Costa Champions Course in Carlsbad, California.
Auburn tees off the first round of its regional alongside No. 12 Texas A&M and No. 13 UCLA at 7:30 a.m. CT off hole 1. Groups will be sent off in 11-minute intervals.
Representing the Orange & Blue is the same crew that led the program to a Southeastern Conference Championship semifinal appearance two weeks ago.
The 2025 SEC Golfer of the Year, sophomore Jackson Koivun, will anchor the Tigers' lineup as the No. 1 man. Three-time First Team All-SEC senior Brendan Valdes will take the No. 2 spot, followed by Second Team All-SEC senior Carson Bacha. Fellow second-teamer sophomore Josiah Gilbert will play from the No. 4 spot while sophomore Cayden Pope will lead things off as the No. 5.
Senior Ryan Eshleman will remain the Tigers' sixth, reserve player. Postseason rules allow for the free substitution of any two players following the completion of a round.
This week marks Auburn's 35th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. In their previous 14 regional appearances under Clinard, the Tigers have advanced to the NCAA Championship 11 times, including the last three years in a row. Auburn has won its regional on four occasions — 1990, 1997, 2023 and 2024.
Auburn’s 2023 victory at AU Club was sealed with a 1-under 863 team score. Valdes shot 3-under 213 to lead the lineup. Valdes has been the Tigers’ low man in each of their last two regionals.
To secure a trip back to California, Auburn needs to outplay a field that consists of No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 13 UCLA, No. 24 SMU, No. 25 Georgia Tech, Oregon, Purdue, Arkansas Little Rock, TCU, College of Charleston, New Mexico State, Loyola Maryland and USC Upstate.
Auburn has already faced eight of its regional opponents in stroke play competition this season, which includes seeds 2-7, and boasts a 20-0 record against those teams.
For all things NCAA Auburn Regional, visit AuburnTigers.com.