Virginia took benefit of identical late birdies to edge No. 1 Auburn, beat three different crew in my preseason prime 6, and seize the fall-opening Inverness Intercollegiate on Tuesday in Toledo, Ohio.
Listed below are a couple of takeaways:
VIRGINIA WAS IN MY PRESEASON TOP 5 FOR A REASON: Make no mistake, the Cavs are good. This efficiency backs that up. With junior Ben James enjoying out of the 5 gap, the two-time first-team All-American led the best way with a T-3 end. Junior operating mate Bryan Lee added a T-7, and the way about everybody’s favourite former membership golfer? Paul Chang closed with a 3-under 66 within the last spherical as Virginia shot 6 beneath – one of the best spherical of the day – to hurry previous Auburn, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. If the Cavs don’t make a 3rd match play subsequent Might at La Costa, I’ll eat – nicely, let’s simply say I’ll be stunned.
KOIVUN, TIGERS SPUTTER LATE: The excellent news for Koivun, the reigning nationwide participant of the 12 months as a freshman, is that he held on to win the person title, the third win of his younger profession and the 14th time in 15 profession begins that he’s cracked the highest 6. Nonetheless, Koivun bogeyed every of his last three holes because the Tigers performed the final 4 holes in 5 over and ended up 4 photographs again of Virginia. Surprisingly, this might be simply what the defending NCAA champs wanted; a slice of humble pie early that would result in one other cherry on prime.
MIGHT BE TIME FOR MY EARLY PICK: I’ve a rule wherein I don’t choose the preseason No. 1 to win all of it. So, sorry, Auburn. And my No. 2 crew, Florida State, seems to be to be awfully reliant on Luke Clanton for the time being. As a substitute, I’m going to formally lock in my choose to win the 2025 NCAA males’s crew title: Oklahoma. The Sooners tied Vanderbilt for third, a shot again of Auburn. Drew Goodman did what he’s anticipated to do, main the crew with a T-7 exhibiting. Jase Summy, Ryder Cowan and Matthew Troutman all added top-20s. I like this crew’s depth. I like what head coach Ryan Hybl does. He’s going to have this crew peaking on the proper time, and as soon as they get into match play, these Sooners will likely be a troublesome out.
SPEAKING OF EARLY PREDICTIONS: I went on the document final week to say that Vanderbilt senior Gordon Sargent would have his greatest season of faculty golf as a senior. A T-33 definitely throws a wrench in that, however I’m holding off on demoting the longer term PGA Tour member to Gordon Corporal. The 8-over begin by way of two rounds wasn’t good. Once more, Sargent struggled with the large numbers – he carded a double bogey every of the primary two days. However he appeared like his ordinary self on Tuesday, closing in 67 with only one bogey. The wedge recreation wants to enhance. So, too, does the quick recreation. That’s what’s holding Sargent again. However you may’t educate that velocity, and this child is a gamer; he’ll determine it out quickly. New prediction: A minimal of two wins for Sarge this season!
