College golf’s championship season continues this week with men’s Division I regional play at six locations across the country.
Three regions have 13 teams and 10 individuals while the other three have 14 teams and five individuals, with 18 holes of stroke play each day from Monday, May 15 through Wednesday, May 17. The top five teams (30 total) and the low individual not on an advancing team (six total) from each region advance to the NCAA Men’s Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, May 26-31.
Below you’ll find a recap, as well as a breakdown of what to watch for from each regional as play concludes from all six sites on day one.
Golfweek/Sagarin rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual
Auburn regional
Team leader: Chattanooga (5 under)
Individual leader: Christoph Bleier, Colorado State; John Houk, Chattanooga (4 under)
If the cut were today: 1. Chattanooga; 2. Colorado State; 3. Auburn; 4. TCU; T-5. Vanderbilt, Ohio State
The hook: Only two teams shot under par Tuesday at the Auburn regional, No. 8 Chattanooga and No. 4 Colorado State. And each of those teams have a player tied for the individual lead. Meanwhile, second-seeded Tennessee sits three shots outside the current cut line, which top-seeded Vanderbilt sits on.
What to watch for Tuesday: Vanderbilt got off to a slow start Monday, outside of Gordon Sargent. The reigning NCAA individual champion is tied for sixth, but no other Commodores are higher than T-15. Expect Vanderbilt to turn it around and play like the top-seeded team.
Wait for it…Houk from 42' (give or take an inch) #NCAAGolf pic.twitter.com/kvCkTXmo2I
— Chattanooga Men's Golf (@GoMocsMGLF) May 15, 2023
Bath regional
Team leader: Georgia (18 under)
Individual leader: Ben Van Wyk, Georgia (6 under)
If the cut were today: 1. Georgia; T-2. Michigan State, Illinois; 4. Texas; T-5. Little Rock, Oregon (playoff)
The hook: Well, well. Michigan State is playing well on its home course. The Spartans are tied with Illinois at 12 under and have four golfers inside the top 20. Coming in as the 10th seed, it would be a big upset to advance, but Little Rock is also looking to play spoiler, tied with Oregon for the fifth spot. Texas’ Keaton Vo also made an ace on his fifth hole.
What to watch for Tuesday: Florida, the SEC champions, had a rough start Monday and were at one point in last place. However, the Gators made a run late and are in seventh, one shot behind Little Rock and Oregon. Expect the Gators to make a push into the top five.
A good day fellas. Back to work tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/gxn5BCUFZn
— Spartan Men's Golf (@MSU_MGolf) May 15, 2023
Las Vegas regional
Team leader: Arizona State (26 under)
Individual leader: Preston Summerhays, Arizona State (10 under)
If the cut were today: 1. Arizona State; 2. Stanford; 3. Virginia; 4. East Tennessee State; T-5: North Carolina-Greensboro, Oklahoma State, Davidson
The hook: Top-seeded Arizona State sure had a day to remember in Las Vegas. Preston Summerhays became the fifth Sun Devil in school history to record a round of 62, and it helped him hold the individual lead and give his team a big advantage after the first day.
What to watch for Tuesday: As the standings go, the top six teams on the leaderboard were the top six seeds heading into play. However, fourth and 11th are separated by only six shots, meaning plenty is up for grabs.
Sources can confirm… that’ll play‼️
Preston Summerhays 🅿️ is now just the fifth Sun Devil to fire a 62 or better in the Golfstat era. All four of our scorers went under 70 in the opening round.
📊 https://t.co/2Yu4b9Y4yW #ForksUp /// 🔱😈⛳️ pic.twitter.com/RcBo6Dg8OW
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) May 15, 2023
Morgan Hill regional
Team leader: Mississippi State (12 under)
Individual leader: Alfons Bondesson, Missouri (5 under)
If the cut were today: 1. Mississippi State; 2. Florida State; 3. Pepperdine; T-4. Charlotte, Baylor
The hook: While 11th-seeded Charlotte is in the mix after the first 18 holes, No. 4 Arizona has a lot of ground to make up come Tuesday. The Wildcats are 10 over and 13 shots back of the cut line with 36 holes to play. Meanwhile, Mississippi State has a five-shot lead after the opening round.
What to watch for Tuesday: There are only seven shots between second-place Florida State and Brigham Young and Grand Canyon in a tie for eighth, so the Morgan Hill regional could have plenty of excitement down the stretch.
Hunter cards a 68 in the opening round of the Morgan Hill Regional for his 17th-career round in the 60s!@HunterLogan64 now takes sole possession of the fifth-most career rounds in 60s in program history‼️#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/8vbtnFdKxu
— Mississippi State Men’s Golf (@HailStateMG) May 15, 2023
Norman regional
Team leader: Texas Tech (10 under)
Individual leader: Nick Dunlap, Alabama; Drew Goodman, Oklahoma (6 under)
If the cut were today: 1. Texas Tech; 2. Oklahoma; 3. Alabama; 4. Duke; 5. Colorado
The hook: The top three seeds coming into the Norman regional are that way after day one, and it’s no surprise there. Ludvig Aberg, Texas Tech’s standout senior, is one back of the individual lead as well. Although Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Alabama haven’t pulled away from the field, it’s hard to imagine any of them dropping back enough, so there could be only two spots up for grabs.
What to watch for Tuesday: Ole Miss and Wake Forest, the No. 4 and 5 seeds, are 10th and 12th, respectively, after the opening round. If they’re not able to make a run, it leaves room for teams like No. 9 Colorado or No. 13 Princeton to sneak in and nab a spot.
18 holes in and just one back of the lead!
We control our own destiny in this one heading into tomorrow morning ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/nNhjvIRDTP
— Oklahoma Golf (@OU_MGolf) May 15, 2023
Salem regional
Team leader: Arkansas (22 under)
Individual leader: Ryan Burnett, North Carolina (9 under)
If the cut were today: 1. Arkansas; 2. New Mexico; 3. North Carolina; 4. Northern Illinois; 5. Georgia Tech
The hook: 12th-seeded Northern Illinois is the biggest surprise, sitting at 13 under and four shots clear of the team in sixth, Georgia Southern. No. 3 Texas A&M is three shots back of Georgia Tech in fifth, but only nine shots separate fourth from 12th, meaning there’s going to be plenty of shuffling remaining.
What to watch for Tuesday: Sam Bennett shot 3 under, good enough for T-21, but none of his Texas A&M teammates were better. He’ll need to have a strong day Tuesday and help the Aggies rally to be in better position after 36 holes.
📈 Round 1️⃣ Birdie Counter: 31
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗯 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗹 – 🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 – 🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣
𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝘆𝗸 – 🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣
𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗹𝗼𝘄 – 🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣
𝗠𝗮𝘅𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 – 🐣🐣🐣🐣#GoDawgs— Georgia Golf (@UGAGolf) May 15, 2023
