COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 18 Auburn men's golf team advanced to the NCAA Championship after tying for second at the NCAA Columbus Regional on Saturday at the Ohio State Golf Club's Scarlet Course. The Tigers (286--872) shot a 2-over in the final round to finish the tournament at 20-over.
No. 5 New Mexico (283--870) won the regional at 18-over while No. 20 South Carolina (288-872), UNLV (294--878) and Texas Tech (292--879) clinched a spot in the NCAA Championship, which will be held at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Ga.
"I'm very proud of the guys with the way they played today," Auburn head coach Nick Clinard said. "They showed a lot of guts. This was a very tough field on a very tough golf course, and we are very excited to advance to the NCAA Championship."
Auburn was led by senior Dominic Bozzelli, who recorded his team-high seventh top-20 finish after placing second at 1-over. The Pittsford, N.Y. native started the day with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 3 and 4, but bogeyed No. 7 to make the turn 1-under. On the back-9, Bozzelli birdied Nos. 11 and 12, but carded a bogey on the par-4 No. 18 to finish the round at 2-under.
"We came here to win this Regional, but I am still happy with the way we played," said Bozzelli. "I played well today and just had two bogeys. I'm looking forward to the NCAA Championship."
Sophomore Michael Johnson notched his fourth top-10 finish of the season after tying for 7th at 3-over. Johnson birdied No. 6 before back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11, but rebounded with a birdie on No. 12. The Birmingham, Ala. native bogeyed No. 15, but responded with a birdie on No. 16 to finish the round at even-par.
Junior Niclas Carlsson and All-SEC Freshman Jake Mondy tied for 25th at 9-over. Following birdies on Nos. 3 and 4, Carlsson bogeyed No. 9 to make the turn at 1-under. Carlsson birdied No. 12 to move to 1-under, but bogeyed No. 15 before a birdie on 16. Carlsson closed the round with a bogey on No. 17 to finish at even-par.
Mondy fired a final round 6-over 77 while senior Michael Hebert tied for 58th at 16-over.
The NCAA Championship will be played at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Ga. on May 28 - June 2.
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