Junior Josiah Gilbert set the pace for Auburn men’s golf at the Invitational at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, leading the Tigers to a strong start to their fall season. Gilbert finished 6-under for the week, earning co-medalist honors for the second time in his collegiate career and helping Auburn secure a tie for second place in the team standings on Tuesday afternoon.
Gilbert’s three-round total came on scores of 73, 66 and 71, highlighted by his second-round 66 that moved him into contention at the top of the leaderboard. His steady play over the final round allowed him to share the individual title with Ole Miss’ Cameron Tankersly. The performance marked another milestone in Gilbert’s career and showed the consistency he has developed over the past two years.
“Means a lot to start off the year strong,” Gilbert said following the tournament. “I feel as though we set a great foundation as a team and learned things about ourselves early on, which is great. I’m thankful to see some progress in my own game, and ready and excited to keep on building when we head to Colonial.”
As a team, Auburn posted a 5-under 859, good enough to split runner-up honors with No. 12 Virginia. Tournament host No. 5 Ole Miss captured the championship with a 10-under 854, but the Tigers proved themselves in a deep field. Even without standout Jackson Koivun, Auburn collected notable head-to-head wins against several ranked opponents, including No. 8 Oklahoma (E), No. 12 Vanderbilt (-1), No. 17 Tennessee (+18) and No. 19 Pepperdine (+4). The Tigers also finished ahead of Clemson (+18) and Duke (+21), both programs receiving votes in the latest coaches’ poll.
Head coach Nick Clinard noted the significance of the finish against such a competitive field. “Very proud of the fight and determination our guys showed these past two days,” Clinard said. “To finish second in a field that includes nine teams ranked in the top 30, without your top-ranked player, is applaudable. They fought hard and climbed up the leaderboard each day. I’m very excited for the potential of this group as our season progresses.”
Behind Gilbert, sophomore Billy Davis provided another strong player for the Tigers, finishing in a tie for eighth. Davis carded rounds of 70, 71 and 73 for a 2-under total, closing the week just four strokes behind Gilbert. His steady performance added to Auburn’s overall score and reinforced his value as a consistent contributor.
In his first tournament of the season, Lexington, Kentucky native Cayden Pope turned in a reliable showing. The junior posted scores of 73, 71 and 73 to secure a place inside the top 15 at 1-over. Pope’s ability to stay consistent across three rounds gave Auburn another boost in the middle of the lineup.
The Tigers gave their freshman a chance to shine, with Jake Albert, Logan Reilly and Jack Roberts all stepping into the lineup. Albert led the first-year group with a tie for 28th, finishing 5-over after rounds of 72, 77 and 72. His early showing against a nationally competitive field signaled promise for Auburn’s depth moving forward.
With the strong opening to their fall schedule behind them, the Tigers now turn their attention to their next test. Auburn will travel to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Ben Hogan Collegiate, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 29 and Tuesday, Sept. 30. The event will be another chance for Auburn to build on its early momentum against some competitive programs.
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