# #

Five Pac-12 men's golf teams punch ticket to NCAA Championships

by Justin Karp
May 18, 2016
Sun Devil Athletics

After three grueling days of competition in various conditions across the country, five Pac-12 men's golf teams have qualified for the NCAA Championships May 27-June 1 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon.

Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford and USC all advanced out of their respective regionals Wednesday, with the Sun Devils and Cardinal both earning victories.

Here's a team-by-team look at how the Pac-12 did on the final day of regional competition:

Arizona State

It was Jon Rahm doing Jon Rahm things all week long at the UNM Championship Course. The reigning Pac-12 champion added a second consecutive NCAA Regional Individual Champion award to his trophy case with a 4-under-212 in three rounds this week, leading Arizona State to a 1st-place team finish -- clear of TCU by 12 strokes -- and a ticket to Eugene. Rahm sank six birdies during Wednesday's final round to win the individual regional title by five strokes.

Stanford

The Cardinal dominated the Tucson regional at The Gallery in Marana, Arizona with a team score of 31 under par, 14 strokes clear of 2nd place Oregon. The Cardinal were led by Franklin Huang and Maverick McNealy, who shot 12-under and 10-under respectively to finish 1st and 2nd as individuals. For Huang, the regional win marked his first career victory.

California

No shortage of drama for the Golden Bears at The Gallery in Marana, but when all was said and done, Cal had earned a spot in the NCAA Championship with a team score of 2-under for the week. California needed birdies from KK Limbhasut, Shotaro Ban and Jamie Cheatham on 17 and 18 to cinch their NCAA berth.

Oregon

If you believe in a home-course advantage, you might want to keep an eye on the Ducks. Oregon will play for an NCAA title in friendly confines after finishing 2nd in the Marana regional. Their 17-under for the the week is the school's third lowest NCAA regional total ever, and it clinched the Ducks' 7th trip to the NCAA Championship in 10 seasons under head coach Casey Martin.

USC

Make it a decade of dominance for the Trojans. USC's 31-over in a veritable windstorm in New Mexico was good for 3rd place in the Albuquerque regional and a 10th-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. Sean Crocker, Justin Suh and Johna Texeira all posted 73s Wednesday to send the Trojans to Eugene.

Washington

One stroke is all that separated Washington and the NCAA Championship when they started play Wednesday, and one stroke is what kept them from qualifying. The Huskies shot 21-under for the week at the Vanderbilt regional, but they ended their postseason run a stroke behind 5th-place Virginia. Carl Yuan led the way for the Dawgs all week, finishing 5th with a 10-under 206.

Colorado

The Buffs wrapped up 2016 with an 8th place finish in Marana, shooting 26-over en route to an 8th place finish. All was not lost, though. Senior Philip Juel-Berg wrapped up his stellar Colorado career by sinking five birdies on Wednesday. His 73.37 career average is the 2nd best in Colorado men's golf history.

UCLA

A tough week in Wisconsin saw the Bruins finish 10th in the Kohler regional, shooting 12-over for the tournament. Cole Madey paced UCLA with an even-par 216 for the week.

Related News & Videos