Texas Tech Mens Golf’s Wins Gold at NCAA Regional Tournament
Texas Tech Men’s Golf has done it again by winning gold and advancing to NCAA Championship. TTU Men’s Golf in its 13th NCAA Championship appearance, the Red Raiders will look to repeat after a successful tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After earning a gold medal in the NCAA Regional Tournament. The team will now change their focus towards the NCAA Championship. In Scottsdale, Arizona, at Grayhawk Golf Club.
Their 13th appearance will look to improve after their most recent appearance in 2018 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In their 19th consecutive appearance in the regional tournament since 2002. The university won the regional tournament in 2010 at the South Central Regional in College Station. With eight finals appearances in that time, the Red Raiders will look to put on a show in Scottsdale.
In the United States, there were six, three-day, 54-hole regional tournaments in the three-day period. All competing to finish top five with the chance to advance to Men’s NCAA Golf Championship. The tournament is slated to begin Friday, May 28th, through Wednesday, June 2nd.
NCAA Albuquerque Regional Tournament
Day 1
Heading into the three days that began on Monday, May 17th started with a strong start. With the team shooting a 283. This would put the Red Raiders in second place behind Oregon State, who shot a 281 and would go into day two, seven under. The first round began in exceptional starts from Ludvig Aberg and Kyle Hogan, who shot 70 each in the first 18 holes. The team would be shooting a five-under and led by Aberg and Hogan, who each shot two-under. The two, also after day one, were tied for ninth in the individual rankings. With a fair start, Texas Tech Men’s Golf sat in second place out of 14 heading into day two of the tournament with the intentions of winning gold.
Day 2
Heading into the tournament’s second day the TTU Men’s Golf kept consistent and shot 278, five strokes less than day one. It also led to the team shooting 10-under the second day to keep them in the fight. Despite the improvement from the first 18, the team still trailed to Oregon State, who shot a 275. The group came together with each player on the team improving except Kyle Hogan, who hit two strokes worse than day one.
The Texas Tech Men’s Golf Team was led again by Ludvig Aberg, who improved his first-day score of 70 to a 69, leaving him at five-under-par and sixth individually. The rest of the charge was led by Garret Martin, who improved his score by two, followed by Baard Skogen, who shot one less. Lastly, the team’s most significant improvement came from Andy Lopez, who shot a 75 on day one and improved to a 69 on day two. Meaning he improved by six strokes.
Not to mention the Texas Tech Men’s Golf Team arguably came out in the first hole with their best start to the year. Skogen began the day with an eagle on hole No. 1. Which was followed by Aberg, Hogan, Martin, and Lopez, who each shot birdies in the first holes of the day. With another successful day and still in the fight, the Red Raiders then looked onto the third day, where they would have to play lights out to edge out Oregon State.
Day 3
On the third and final day of the 54-hole series, the Texas Tech Men’s Golf Team played the final 18-holes. In the finale, the Red Raiders shot a 277, which would be the lowest score of the three-day tournament. All five individuals on the team shot under par in 54-holes to win the gold medal in Albuquerque. All five also finished in the top 25 individual rankings as well.
The charge was led by nationally ranked Texas Tech Red Raider Swedish golfer Ludvig Aberg who finished up the tournament in fourth by shooting 9-under par with a 207. His last round helped him do so by shooting a 68, which would lead to being four under. Aberg was followed by fellow sophomore Garrett Martin, who shot six-under and finished tenth in the induvial rankings. His final round by hitting four-under propelled him to the top ten finish.
Martin was followed by Baard Skogen, who finished 15th overall and shot six-under in 54-holes. Four of those strokes came in his final round, where he shot four-under-par and then two-under on day two. The last two golfers on the team were Kyle Hogan and Andy Lopez. Who tied for 21st place by finishing two-under and shooting 214’s.
Accompanying the Texas Tech Red Raiders after winning gold to the NCAA championship from their region is Arizona State, Oregon State, Oklahoma, and San Diego State.
Overall
Now Coach Greg Sands, in his 20th season as the Men’s Golf Head Coach and 25 tournament wins under his belt, he and the team will look for the 26th in the NCAA Championship gold medal. The tournament will take place in a large field of players/schools in Scottsdale, Arizona, at Grayhawk Golf Club. The six-day tournament will begin Friday, May 28, and play through Wednesday, June 2. With momentum on their side after a strong outing at the NCAA Regional. Now a 1st place finish to add to their already impressive resume. The Red Raiders will look to keep it up with a strong outing at the Men’s Golf NCAA Championship.
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Written by Campus Live Intern Trinity Porter