ASU/UA to play for spots in golf finals

With the team and individual selections completed for the upcoming NCAA Division I men’s golf championship, the schedule has been set as 81 teams and 45 individuals play it out for a spot at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.

The championship is spread out across six regional sites where qualifiers will try to make the finals. Only 30 teams and six individuals (not on a qualifying team) will compete at the national championship in Southern California.

Here are the six regional sites (May 13-May 15):

Austin (Texas) - The University of Texas Golf Club

Baton Rouge (Louisana) - University Club

Chapel Hill (North Carolina) UNC Finley Golf Course

Rancho Santa Fe (California) Farms Golf Club

Stanford (California)

Golf Course

The - Stanford

West Lafayette (Indiana) - Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex

In the 14-team Rancho Santa Fe Regional, ASU and coach Matt Thurmond are the No. 1 seed. The Sun Devils are coming off winning the Pac-12 championship, the first since 2008. ASU, which boasts a rich history in the sport, was the national runner-up in 2022 to Texas. They also finished third in 2021. Those were the program’s best finishes since 1996, when ASU won the NCAA championship.

In the 13-team West Lafayette Regional, Arizona and coach Jim Anderson are the second seed behind No. 1 Vanderbilt. The Wildcats last won the NCAA championship in 1992 under coach Rich LaRose – that same year,

ASU finished runner-up. Last season, Arizona won the Arizona NIT, the school’s annual home tournament, for the first time since 2003. They have qualified for the NCAA postseason for six straight seasons.

In the 13-team Austin Regional, GCU and coach Mark Mueller are the No. 11 seed. The Lopes are fresh off winning the WAC championship, the school’s second consecutive conference title. It is only the school’s second-ever trip to the NCAA postseason.

The national championship will take place from May 24 to May 29.

How does the championship work?

Per the NCAA, six 54-hole regional tournaments will determine the qualifying teams and individuals competing in the finals.

Following those 54 holes of competition, the top 15 teams — along with the top nine individuals — will advance for one additional day to determine the top eight teams for match-play competition and the individual champion. The top eight teams after 72 holes will be placed into a bracket.

For the team competition, a total of five points will be available with one point being awarded for each individual match. Winning teams will advance to the semifinals and the finals. The first team to win three points within the team match will advance, or if it’s the final match, be named the national champion.

NCAA golf TV schedule

The NCAA golf championships will be broadcast on the Golf Channel, starting May 27 at 1 p.m. The full broadcast schedule can be found here.