CARLSBAD, Calif. – Auburn’s bid for a back-to-back national title run came up a point short Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the 2025 NCAA Championship as the No. 1 Tigers were bested by No. 10 Virginia 3-2.
“I’m proud of this team and I’m proud of these seniors,” head coach Nick Clinard said. “They gave their blood, sweat and tears for Auburn and this program is in a better place because of it. Today was not the result we wanted, but we’re still proud of who we are and what we’ve accomplished.”
Sophomore Jackson Koivun took advantage of a mistake from his opponent, Josh Duangmanee, on the sixth hole to take an early one-point lead that he maintained for the rest of the match. Koivun grew his lead to three and forced a tie on 16 to win his match 3&2.
Cayden Pope trailed for 13 of the first 16 holes of his match, but rallied late, starting with a chip-in birdie on 14 to whittle away at Maxi Puregger’s lead. Pope went on to win four of the last five holes, highlighted by a birdie on 18 to win 1-UP.
(7) No. 10 Virginia def. (2) No. 1 Auburn, 3-2
Cayden Pope def. Maxi Puregger, 1-UP
Jackson Koivun def. Josh Duangmanee, 4&3
Ben James def. Carson Bacha, 2&1
Paul Chang def. Brendan Valdes, 5&3
Bryan Lee def. Josiah Gilbert, 4&3