FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 1 Auburn men’s golf concluded its run at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational presented by Charles Schwab in a tie for eighth place, just six shots back of the lead, at 16-over-par Tuesday at Colonial Country Club.
“We were simply not good enough this week. Not even close to it,” head coach Nick Clinard said. “Disappointed in the result, but I know we will learn from our mistakes and not make them again. The fall season is for learning and growing, and we will certainly take something away from this performance that will make us better in the long run.”
The win was split four ways between No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Vanderbilt, No. 8 Virginia and No. 14 North Carolina, all of whom shot 10-over. Albert Hansson of Georgia Tech won a five-man playoff to receive low medalist honors. He shot 1-under and birdied the first hole of the playoff.
Juniors Jackson Koivun and Cayden Pope shot 3-over to represent Auburn’s low men at the event. Koivun went 68-74-71 while Pope shot 70-73-70. Behind them were sophomore Billy Davis (+7), freshman Jake Albert (+8) and junior Josiah Gilbert (+10).
While the result is not what the Tigers are accustomed to, Auburn did pick up head-to-head wins against No. 7 Oklahoma (+23), No. 2 Arizona State (+27), No. 16 Texas A&M (+28) and No. 21 Georgia (+30).
Auburn eyes redemption in its next event, The Williams Cup, which is set for Oct. 19-21 at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina.