AUBURN MEN'S GOLF ADVANCES TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STROKE PLAY ROUND

[augolf1716 21,170]

Going to be tough getting into top 8 but we have a shot. :timeout:

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The No. 8 Auburn men's golf team closed out its remaining three holes in the NCAA Championship third round even par early Monday at The Concession Club as the Tigers advance to the final round of stroke play in a three-way tie for 12th.

The 30-team NCAA Championship field was trimmed in half after three rounds. The top eight teams after Monday's fourth round advance to match play on Tuesday and Wednesday to decide the NCAA Champion.

Freshman Ben Schlottman made par on his remaining three holes after play resumed at 7 am Eastern while junior All-SEC birdied the ninth, his final hole, and Dan Stringfellow finished bogey-par as the Tigers closed the third round 8-over for a total of 23-over, nine shots out of eighth.

"The guys were able to sleep on it last night," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "We struggled. The wind started blowing on our back nine, which was the front nine and some of those holes played hard. Nos. 4 and 5, and we really made a mess of 7. It was a reachable par-5 that had a very difficult green and difficult pin.

"Having to sleep on it last night and coming out here and knowing what they had to do to get into the top 15 was fantastic, especially with a young team put in that situation and relying on a freshman (Ben Schlottman) coming down the stretch. He's just a big-time player, and I think that bodes well for the future of the program, too."

No. 9 Georgia (288-293-286--867) leads by three shots over No. 13 Southern California (289-285-296--870) followed by No. 7 LSU (292-289-290--871), No. 4 Vanderbilt (301-284-287--872), No. 1 Illinois (286-291-296--873), No. 2 Texas (294-300-280--874), No. 13 South Florida (294-291-292--877) while No. 16 UCLA (294-304-280--878) and No. 9 Georgia Tech (293-295-290--878) are tied for eighth.

TCU (296-293-291--880) is in 10th ahead of No. 1 Florida State (298-292-293--883), San Diego State (290-299-298--887), No. 8 Auburn (301-290-296--887) and No. 6 South Carolina (301-298-288--887).

"Our goal is to make the top eight for match play," Clinard said. "We are going to need a good one. We have five players ranked in the top 90 in the country. They are all great players, and it's time for them to step up and shoot 2-to-3 under each and see what happens."

No. 21 SMU (296-303-291--890) defeated No. 13 Washington (301-294-295--890) in a one-hole playoff to advance to the final round of stroke play.

All-SEC first-team and SEC Freshman of the Year Ben Schlottman leads Auburn in a tie for 23rd at 2-over 218, firing his second consecutive even par 72 in the third round. Senior Dan Stringfellow is tied for 51st after a 75-72-75-222 while junior All-SEC Michael Johnson is tied for 59th at 78-72-73--223. First-team All-SEC sophomore Matt Gilchrest (76-80-76--232) and sophomore Ryan Benton (76-74-82--232) are tied for 113th.

Auburn will tee off in Monday's final round of stroke play at 9 am Central on No. 10 with No. 6 South Carolina and No. 21 SMU.

SMU's Bryson Dechambeau leads at 7-under 70-67-72--209, a shot ahead of UAB's Pal Dunne (72-69-69--210). The top nine individuals not on the 15 teams that make Sunday's cut advance to play in Monday's final round to decide the 72-hole individual champion.

The match play quarterfinals and semifinals both take place on Tuesday at 6 am and 12:30 pm Central, respectively. The NCAA Championship match is on Wednesday, June 3 at 1:10 pm Central.

Golf Channel will televise the NCAA Championship live on Monday starting at 11:30 am Central, Tuesday from 9:30-11:30 am and 2:30-6 pm and Wednesday, June 3 from 2-6 pm. The Tigers are one of only eight teams to appear in four consecutive NCAA Championships. It is Auburn's 20th overall appearance.

Auburn is destroying the school's team single-season stroke average record by averaging 281.80 strokes per round. The current record is 285.30 set in 2011-12. In fact, Clinard-coached Auburn teams have the four lowest averages in Tiger history.

[augolf1716 21,170]

Well crap still overall a good season 11 shots out of being in top 8 and with one senior on the team. SEC with 3 teams in final 8 match play.