The Augusta University Athletic Department hosted a send-off to the NCAA National Championship for the men’s golf team on Monday, May 19 at Forest Hills Golf Club.
The Jaguars will be heading to Carlsbad, Calif. to play in the NCAA National Championship at the Omni La Costa Golf Course.
This is the first time since 2018 that the team has advanced to the championship. Augusta University got its first individual national champion in that season with Broc Everett taking home the first place prize.
This golf program has a rich history, as you may recall the Jaguars won back-to-back national titles in 2010 and 2011. The team was led by professional golfers Patrick Reed and Henrik Norlander.
This year they got to these championships by winning the Southland Conference tournament to secure a postseason bid. Then they were placed in the Florida State regional where they finished fifth to clinch a bid.
The top five in every regional heads to the 30-team national championship field.
This team had the potential all year to do something special, but wasn’t expected to make Nationals because they had failed to put it all together at the same time. That was until last week.
“We had been inconsistent, but had played really well in spurts,” said Head Coach Steven Paine. “We knew it was in there. It was just about playing consistently and the guys are firing on all cylinders, so hopefully that continues next week.”
Bo Blanchard, who’s ranked the 169th best player in the country, led the Jaguars.
He won the individual conference championship and finished eighth (highest on team) in the Tallahassee Regional with a score of five-under-par.
Blanchard spoke about how playing in tough tournaments all year benefits them in postseason play.
“We’ve played a lot of tournaments on some really difficult golf courses,” Blanchard said. “(There were) really tough pins with wind and firm/fast greens and (we played) against the best players and teams in the country. So when you show up and see those logos and names you are used to, it helps you in the moment.”
Behind him, was Stefan Jacobs, who was just one spot behind Blanchard shooting four-under-par.
The rest of the starting lineup is made up of Pieter Roussouw (-3), Dean Wilken (+9) and Behn Heyns.
“The Grill” at Forest Hills was filled with supporters of this program on Monday, May 19.
“There’s not many places where you get this kind of support, so obviously for us it’s great and to be able to do this for the community is great,” said Coach Paine.
The team will leave on the morning of Tuesday, May 20 and begin play on Friday, May 23.
