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ETSU’s run for a national title ends Monday in California
Bucs finish 12th at NCAA Championship; ETSU’s best finish since 2001
CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 27, 2024) – It's been nearly 25 years since the ETSU men's golf team gave the Buccaneer faithful a run for a national title like the Blue & Gold did this week in California.
Looking to secure one of the top eight spots to advance to match play, the 19th-ranked Buccaneers saw their historic 2023-24 season come to an end on Monday, as ETSU finished 12th at the NCAA Championship from Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, North Course.
ETSU, one of the top 15 teams who advanced to the final round of stroke play, made the cut at the NCAA Championship for the first time since that 2001 campaign. The Bucs' 12th-place finish marked their best showing at the national championship since that 2001 season when ETSU finished ninth.
The Bucs made a move on Monday as ETSU sat in 10th for a portion on the back nine, but like they have all tournament long, the closing holes showed their teeth. Sitting at one-under through 13 holes on the round, ETSU dropped four shots over the final holes as the Bucs posted their best score of the weekend at 3-over 291. Overall, the Bucs finished at 30-over-par 1182, besting 2022 champion Texas, Big 12 power Baylor and 1992 national title winner Arizona.
The Bucs, playing in their 21 NCAA Championship, have now recorded nine top-15 finishes in program history, including a program-best third-place showing in 1996. ETSU entered the tournament as the No. 14 seed, while the Bucs made their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Championship – one of just nine program to accomplish the feat.
Illinois secured the No. 1 seed in match play after finishing the stroke play portion of the tournament at 6-under-par 1146. The remaining teams to advance to match play were Vanderbilt (2nd, +10), Virginia (T3, +7), North Carolina (T3, +11), Florida State (5th, +12), Auburn (6th, +19), Ohio State (7th, +22) and Georgia Tech (8th, +25).
Tuesday's quarterfinal matches feature: Illinois vs. Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt vs. Ohio State, Virginia vs. Auburn and North Carolina vs. Florida State.
The Bucs were led by Mats Ege as the Haskins Award finalist fired a 2-under 70 on Monday en route to finishing tied for 18th at 2-over-par 290. Ege finished second in the field in par-4 scoring, playing the holes at two-under for the weekend. The two-time defending Southern Conference Player of the Year generated 50 pars and 11 birdies over the 72 holes.
Matty Dodd-Berry posted a 1-over 73 in the final round and finished tied for 49th at 10-over-par 298, while Algot Kleen and Remi Chartier finished tied for 59th at 12-over-par 300. The Buccaneer duo, along with Jenson Forrester shot 2-over 74 on Monday. Forrester, making his NCAA Championship debut, finished tied for 72nd at 15-over-par 303. Dodd-Berry led the Bucs with 13 birdies for the tournament.
Georgia Tech's Hiroshi Tai won the individual championship at 3-under-par 285. A group of six golfers finished tied for second at 2-under-par 286. In total, only 10 golfers finished below par for the championship.
The Bucs ended the 2023-24 season with three tournament wins, including a fourth straight SoCon crown. ETSU was ranked as high as No. 8 on the season, while also posting seven top-three finishes on the campaign. The Bucs finished runner-up at the Chapel Hill Regional, marking their best finish in a regional since winning in Cle Elum in 2021.
Looking to secure one of the top eight spots to advance to match play, the 19th-ranked Buccaneers saw their historic 2023-24 season come to an end on Monday, as ETSU finished 12th at the NCAA Championship from Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, North Course.
ETSU, one of the top 15 teams who advanced to the final round of stroke play, made the cut at the NCAA Championship for the first time since that 2001 campaign. The Bucs' 12th-place finish marked their best showing at the national championship since that 2001 season when ETSU finished ninth.
The Bucs made a move on Monday as ETSU sat in 10th for a portion on the back nine, but like they have all tournament long, the closing holes showed their teeth. Sitting at one-under through 13 holes on the round, ETSU dropped four shots over the final holes as the Bucs posted their best score of the weekend at 3-over 291. Overall, the Bucs finished at 30-over-par 1182, besting 2022 champion Texas, Big 12 power Baylor and 1992 national title winner Arizona.
The Bucs, playing in their 21 NCAA Championship, have now recorded nine top-15 finishes in program history, including a program-best third-place showing in 1996. ETSU entered the tournament as the No. 14 seed, while the Bucs made their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Championship – one of just nine program to accomplish the feat.
Illinois secured the No. 1 seed in match play after finishing the stroke play portion of the tournament at 6-under-par 1146. The remaining teams to advance to match play were Vanderbilt (2nd, +10), Virginia (T3, +7), North Carolina (T3, +11), Florida State (5th, +12), Auburn (6th, +19), Ohio State (7th, +22) and Georgia Tech (8th, +25).
Tuesday's quarterfinal matches feature: Illinois vs. Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt vs. Ohio State, Virginia vs. Auburn and North Carolina vs. Florida State.
The Bucs were led by Mats Ege as the Haskins Award finalist fired a 2-under 70 on Monday en route to finishing tied for 18th at 2-over-par 290. Ege finished second in the field in par-4 scoring, playing the holes at two-under for the weekend. The two-time defending Southern Conference Player of the Year generated 50 pars and 11 birdies over the 72 holes.
Matty Dodd-Berry posted a 1-over 73 in the final round and finished tied for 49th at 10-over-par 298, while Algot Kleen and Remi Chartier finished tied for 59th at 12-over-par 300. The Buccaneer duo, along with Jenson Forrester shot 2-over 74 on Monday. Forrester, making his NCAA Championship debut, finished tied for 72nd at 15-over-par 303. Dodd-Berry led the Bucs with 13 birdies for the tournament.
Georgia Tech's Hiroshi Tai won the individual championship at 3-under-par 285. A group of six golfers finished tied for second at 2-under-par 286. In total, only 10 golfers finished below par for the championship.
The Bucs ended the 2023-24 season with three tournament wins, including a fourth straight SoCon crown. ETSU was ranked as high as No. 8 on the season, while also posting seven top-three finishes on the campaign. The Bucs finished runner-up at the Chapel Hill Regional, marking their best finish in a regional since winning in Cle Elum in 2021.