Auburn men’s golf defeats Florida State, wins first ever NCAA Championship (2024)

Published: May. 29, 2024 at 9:23 PM CDT|Updated: May. 29, 2024 at 11:09 PM CDT

CARLSBAD, California. (WBRC) - WAR EAGLE! For the first time in school history, Auburn has won the NCAA men’s golf championship!

The final round of the NCAA Championship began Wednesday afternoon at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California with the #1 ranked Auburn Tigers looking to win their first ever men’s golf national championship. The Tigers sent Carson Bacha out on the course first, followed by Josiah Gilbert, Jackson Koivun, Brendan Valdes, and J.M. Butler.

Koivun was named as the 2024 Fred Haskins Award winner Monday, becoming the Auburn Tiger to win the award and the first freshman to win the award in 2012 when Alabama’s Justin Thomas won the award. (The Fred Haskins Award is awarded annually to the top male U.S. collegiate golfer as voted on by college golfers, coaches, and members of the golf media).

It was a back and forth affair between the first three matches on the course as the two sides were firing on all cylinders. The Seminoles held the momentum very early in the day though as they looked to claim the title.

Cole Anderson of Florida State was 1Down to Carson Bacha of Auburn after the first hole of the day but quickly got back on track after winning holes 3, 6, 7, and 9 to take a 3 Up lead. Bacha won the 10th hole to get back to just 2 Down before finding himself 3Down with 3 holes to play late in the match. Bacha made birdies on 16 and 17, but saw his birdie putt on 18 slide just past the hole as he fell to Anderson 1Down in the first match of the day.

Josiah Gilbert took on Tyler Weaver of Florida State in the second match of the day in California. Weaver got out to a hot start for the Seminoles after winning the 3rd, 5th, and 7th holes to take a quick 3Up lead. Gilbert was able to get a hole back after winning the 8th, but lost the 9th hole and was 3Down through 9 holes. On the back nine, Gilbert was unable to get back into the match as Weaver held a steady lead and finish the match on 17 with a 2&1 win.

Auburn was not going to go down without a fight though as their Freshman All-American and Fred Haskins award winner Jackson Koivun was looking to get the Tigers first point of the day. Koivun and Brett Roberts were tied through the first three holes before Koivun won the 4th hole to go 1Up in the match.

Roberts won the 5th and 6th holes to take a the lead in the match, but Koivun won both the 8th and 9th to hold a 1Up lead heading into the back 9. Then, Koivun showed why he was named the Fred Haskins Award winner. After winning the 10th, 12th, and 13th hole, he capped off the match with a chip in from behind the 14th green for the Tigers first point of the day, winning the match 5&4.

Brendan Valdes and Frederik Kjettrup exchanged leads in the match multiple times throughout the front 9 in the fourth match of the day. Kjettrup won the first hole before Valdes won the 5th hole to make the match all square through five. Then, on the 7th hole Valdes made a five footer for par to take his first lead in the match. After winning the 8th hole, Valdes made a birdie on the par 5 10th to take a commanding 3Up lead after 10 holes.

Valdes then held his lead throughout the back 9 before making a birdie on the par 4 15th to close out his match with a 4&3 win.

After the Seminoles won the first two matches of the day, Auburn stormed back by winning the third and fourth matches, making the anchor match the ultimate decider of the NCAA Championship.

Senior J.M. Butler, playing in his last round ever for Auburn, was now the deciding point for the Tigers. Butler and Luke Clanton both won one hole each on the front 9, but were all square after 9 holes.

After winning the 10th hole but losing the 11th, Butler made a par on the 12th to regain his 1Up lead in the match.

On the 13th hole, Butler made a clutch par putt to hold onto his lead heading into the 14th hole late in the match.

Holding a 1Up lead with with four holes to play, Butler then won the 15th to go 2Up with three to play.

Butler and Clanton both pared the 16th hole before a Butler win on the 17th hole to claim Auburn’s first ever NCAA National Championship.

Wednesday’s national championship was Auburn’s 10th win of the season and the first ever national championship for the school. (Auburn also won the SEC Championship in April.)

After the win, there was only one thing left for the Tigers:

“We’re bringing one home. Auburn family, get ready for Toomer’s Corner because we’re getting to roll it,” said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard after the match.

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