CLEMSON, S.C. — Rich Wills, Lucas Augustson and Colin Salema all scored in the 60s to help Clemson tie a school record for low score-vs.-par in an NCAA Tournament round, but the Tigers finished three shots and two places short of the needed fifth-place finish at the Marana NCAA Tournament Regional in Marana, Arizona.
Clemson had a team score of 21-under-par 843 for the three-day, 54-hole tournament on the par 72 Gallery Golf Club Course that measures 7,303 yards. Host school Arizona won the tournament with a score of 45-under par 819, while defending national champion Oklahoma State was second at 35-under-par for an 829 total. LSU was third at 834, while Duke and Arkansas State tied for fourth at 24-under par (840). Arkansas State and Duke were the last two teams in the 14-team field to advance to the NCAA National Tournament in Carlsbad, Calif. later this month.
Alabama, ranked 20th in the nation was sixth at 23-under-par, just one shot out of a playoff for the last spot in the national tournament. The Tigers were seventh, just three shots short of the playoff. West Virginia was eight at five-under-par 859.
Clemson’s team score of 14-under-par 274, tied the school record for the low round vs. par in an NCAA Tournament by a Tiger team. Two years ago when Clemson won the Chapel Hill regional the Tigers shot a 14-under 266 in the second round.
Wills led the way on Wednesday with a five-under-par round of 67, the low round of his career in terms of total score and score vs. par. The sophomore had six birdies and just one bogey. He finished the tournament with rounds of 73-73-67 for a 213 total, good enough for 25th place.
Salema and Augustsson were co-medalists for Clemson for the 54 holes with scores of seven-under par 209, good enough for a tie for 13th place. Salema had rounds of 74-66-69 for his 209 total. He tied for the team lead in birdies with 12. His last 36 hole score of 135 led the Tigers. He had a streak of 39 straight bogey free holes from the last four holes of the first round until he made a bogey on his final hole on Wednesday. That was the longest streak of bogey free holes since 2022 when Jacob Bridgeman had 43 in a row. His second round 66 tied his career best.
Augustsson had rounds of 72-69-68 to finish at 209. He had 11 birdies and an eagle over the tournament. He was fourth in the 72-player field in par three scoring (2.83) and was sixth in par four scoring (3.80). Augustsson finished the season with 15 under-par rounds, best on the team including 10 rounds in the 60s. He was the only Tiger to score at par or better in all three rounds of the region. His final round on Wednesday was bogey free, his third of the year.
Oscar Bredkjaer had a two-under-par 70 on Wednesday and finished with a 212 score for his 54 holes, good enough for 22nd place. It was his 12th under par round of the year. He finished the year at one over par for his 29 rounds, best on the team.
Senior Thomas Higgins had a final round 79 and finished with a 231 total for the 54 holes.
Clemson finished the year with two tournament victories and five top 5 finishes. Clemson’s head to head record in team tournament play was 98-62-3.