The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Championship Stroke Play
No. 15 Men's Golf preview: NCAA Championships
05.24.2023 | Men's Golf
The Longhorns compete for a national title at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale beginning on Friday afternoon.
When: Friday, May 26 – Wednesday, May 31
Format: Four rounds of stroke play, 18 holes each day (Friday thru Monday); Low 15 teams advance to Monday's final round of stroke play; Low 8 teams advance to Match Play; Match Play Quarterfinals and Semifinals (Tuesday); Match Play Championship (Wednesday)
Where: Grayhawk Golf Club (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Course Info: Par-70; 7,289 yards
Host Web Site: https://live-ncaa-golf-d9.ws.asu.edu/
Television: Golf Channel (Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday)
Live Scoring: https://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=27706
Tournament Notes
Texas at the 2023 NCAA Championships: Texas is the No. 16 seed in the 2023 NCAA Championships. The Longhorns are making their 16th consecutive and 71st all-time NCAA Championship appearance. UT has claimed four NCAA team titles in program history (1971, 1972, 2012 and 2022). The Longhorns will be paired with Mississippi State and Oregon in Friday's first round and tee off from hole 1 beginning at 2:47 p.m. Central (12:47 p.m. Pacific). The same three teams will be paired together in Saturday's second round and tee off from hole 10 starting at 9:27 a.m. Central (7:27 a.m. Pacific).
Defending National Champs: Texas claimed its fourth NCAA team title in program history last year with a dramatic 3-2 victory over tourney host Arizona State in the championship match (Scottsdale, Ariz.). The Longhorns have captured NCAA team championships in 1971, 1972, 2012 and 2022.
Team Rankings: Texas is No. 15 in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches poll (May 5). The Longhorns are No. 17 in the most recent GolfStat national rankings (May 20).
16 Straight: UT's streak of 16 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances is the longest current streak in NCAA Division I men's golf. Here's a look at the longest active NCAA Championship appearances entering the 2023 NCAAs.
|
Number of Consecutive NCAA Championship Appearances |
School |
|
16 |
TEXAS |
|
12 |
Oklahoma |
|
9 |
Vanderbilt |
|
8 |
Arizona State |
|
6 |
North Carolina |
Advancing to Match Play: Not only has Texas been a consistent force in advancing to the NCAA Championships, the Longhorns have produced solid results while at the national championship. In the last 10 opportunities (dating back to the 2012 NCAA Championships), UT has advanced to the Match Play quarterfinals stage (final eight teams) a total of seven times. Texas is the ONLY school to advance to Match Play at least SEVEN times in the last 10 opportunities (2020 tourney was canceled due to COVID-19).
|
NCAA Match Play Appearances in Last 10 Tournaments (2012-22) |
School |
|
7 (2012-13-15-16-18-19-22) |
TEXAS |
|
6 (2016-17-18-19-21-22) |
Oklahoma |
|
6 (2014-17-18-19-21-22) |
Oklahoma State |
|
6 (2015-16-17-19-21-22) |
Vanderbilt |
Last Time Out: Texas placed fifth at the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15-17) at Eagle Eye Golf Club. The Longhorns posted a three-round score of 10-under-par 842 (275-281-286) to finish three strokes above the team cut line, as Kansas State placed sixth at 7-under-par 845. Tommy Morrison completed his breakout performance at the event with a collegiate-best tie for eighth place finish in the individual standings. Morrison fired a three-round score of 5-under-par 208 (68-70-70). Brian Stark paced the Longhorns in the final round with a 2-under-par 69 for the second straight day to tie for 25th place in the individual standings at even-par 213 (75-69-69).
Solid Spring Campaign: Since the start of the spring semester, the Longhorns have played their best golf of the 2022-23 season. Texas opened its spring campaign with a team title and 13-stroke victory at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) in Westlake Village, Calif. The Longhorns followed that performance with a 4-1-1 match play victory against No. 11 Georgia Tech as part of the Big 12/ACC Showdown in Hawaii (Feb. 10) and added a runner-up finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) in Las Vegas along with a third-place team showing at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) in Palm City, Fla. During its last four events, Texas has earned a sixth-place finish at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2), a tie for sixth at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational (April 14-15), a fourth-place showing at the Big 12 Championship (April 24-26) and a fifth-place effort at the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15-17).
Each Have Shown Signs This Spring: All six players on UT's travel roster to Scottsdale for the 2023 NCAA Championships have recorded outstanding individual performances during the spring season. Christiaan Maas posted a runner-up finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) at 10-under-par 206 (66-69-71), and Tommy Morrison tied for eighth place at the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15-17) at 5-under-par 208 (68-70-70). Mason Nome claimed individual medalist honors at the 15-player Spring Indy at WinStar (April 11-12) with an 8-under-par 208 (69-68-71) and also tied for 12th at the Big 12 Championship (April 24-26) at 8-over-par 288 (72-71-69-76). Jacob Sosa recorded a third-place showing at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a 7-under-par 209 (61-74-74), and Brian Stark registered a third-place performance at the Big 12 Championship (April 24-26) at 6-under-par 274 (69-72-67-66) and a tie for fourth at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) with a 9-under-par 204 (68-71-65). Keaton Vo earned a runner-up finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70).
Southwestern Invitational Champs: Texas earned a wire-to-wire victory at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at North Ranch Country Club (Westlake Village, Calif.). The Longhorns posted a three-round total of 14-under-par 850 (270-290-290) to win by 13 strokes over runner-up and tourney host No. 15 Pepperdine at 1-under-par 863, while No. 5 Arizona State was third at 4-over-par 868. Keaton Vo placed second individually at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70), just one stroke behind medalist Michael Brennan of Wake Forest at 9-under-par 207. Jacob Sosa, who posted a school-record 18-hole score of 11-under-par 61 in the opening round, finished in third place at 7-under-par 209 (61-74-74), and Christiaan Maas tied for fifth at 4-under-par 212 (68-70-74).
A Round for the Ages: Freshman Jacob Sosa began the spring season with a school-record 18-hole score of 11-under-par 61 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) at North Ranch Country Club. The 61 eclipsed the previous school record of 63 set by four players previously, including Gavin Hall (2016 Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate third round), Brandon Stone (2012 Carpet Capital Collegiate second round), David Gossett (2000 NCAA Championship first round) and Justin Leonard (1994 NCAA Championship third round). Sosa recorded three eagles and five birdies without a bogey during his round. His score of 61 also was a tournament and course record and the lowest 18-hole round ever played at North Ranch Country Club.
Match Play Win Against Georgia Tech: The Longhorns claimed a 4-1-1 victory against No. 11 Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) at Hapuna Golf Course (Kamuela, Hawaii). Texas and Georgia Tech were two of 20 teams who originally came to Hawaii to participate in the Amer Ari Invitational on Feb. 8-10, but the tourney was canceled due to high winds. Official match-play competitions were organized for Texas-Georgia Tech and Texas Tech-North Carolina. The Longhorns received individual match wins from Travis Vick, Christiaan Maas, Jacob Sosa and Tommy Morrison.
The Fields Factor: Now in his 26th season as head coach at Texas, John Fields has guided the Longhorns to 21 NCAA Championship appearances in his 25 opportunities (no NCAA tourney in 2020 due to COVID-19). Under Fields' leadership, UT has posted 10 top-five finishes at the NCAA Championship, including NCAA team titles in 2012 and 2022 and runner-up showings in 2016 and 2019. Prior to his time at Texas, Fields led the University of New Mexico to nine NCAA Championship appearances in 10 seasons (1988-97). Fields was named Golfweek's Men's National Coach of the Year last season for the third time during his time in Austin (2012, 2016 and 2022). He also has claimed Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades nine times during his 26-year tenure at Texas (2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2022).
The Texas Lineup: UT will be represented by the following six players at the NCAA Championships:
- Tommy Morrison (Fr., 71.27 avg.)
- Christiaan Maas (Fr., 70.38 avg.)
- Brian Stark (Gr., 70.68 avg.)
- Keaton Vo (Fr., 72.32 avg.)
- Mason Nome (Sr., 72.22 avg.)
Alternate) Jacob Sosa (Fr., 72.78 avg.)
Inside the Texas Lineup
Tommy Morrison: Has competed in six of UT's eight events this spring after enrolling at Texas prior to the spring 2023 semester and sports a 71.27 stroke average (third on the team) … No. 126 in the most recent GolfStat national individual rankings (May 20) … has shot par or better in nine of his 15 stroke-play rounds this year, including a pair of rounds in the 60s … carded a collegiate-best tie for eighth place at the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15-17) with a 5-under-par 208 (68-70-70) … his opening-round score of 3-under 68 at the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15) marked his collegiate-low 18-hole score … tied for ninth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 7-under-par 209 (70-70-69) while competing as an individual … made his collegiate debut in the match against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) and earned a 2&1 victory over Ben Reuter … posted a runner-up showing in the 2022 North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 in July … finished fourth in the inaugural Elite Amateur Cup after competing in six of the seven championships (series features the Sunnehanna Amateur, Northeast Amateur, Trans-Miss Amateur, Southern Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur, North & South Amateur and the Western Amateur) … paired with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and shot a best-ball score of 9-under-par 63 (Oct. 11) at Winter Creek Golf Club in Blanchard, Okla., to tie for medalist honors and earn a qualifying spot for the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship (May 20-24 at Kiawah's Ocean Course) … placed fourth at the 2022 Junior Orange Bowl International … tied for sixth at the 2021 Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship … won the 2020 Southern Junior championship.
Christiaan Maas: Has competed in each of UT's first 13 events and boasts a team-best 70.38 stroke average … named to the International Team at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup (announced April 25) … No. 13 in the most recent GolfStat national individual rankings (May 20) … No. 21 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (May 17) … named to the 2023 Ben Hogan Award watch list (Jan. 27) and the 2023 Fred Haskins Award first spring watch list (Mar. 10) … member of the Golf RSA (South Africa) National squad … during his 11 stroke-play tourney appearances, he has registered five top-10 and 10 top-20 individual finishes … has shot par or better in 23 of his 32 stroke-play rounds this year, including 12 rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best individual runner-up finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 10-under-par 206 (66-69-71) … recorded his collegiate low 18-hole score of 6-under-par 66 in the opening round at the Southern Highlands (Feb. 26) … tied for third at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 3-4) with a 6-under-par 204 (70-67-67) … tied for fifth at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a 4-under-par 212 (68-70-74) … tied for eighth at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) at 6-under-par 210 (69-73-68) … tied for ninth at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) with a 6-under-par 207 (69-71-67) … tied for 15th at the Big 12 Championship (April 24-26) at 9-over-par 289 (70-75-70-74) … posted a 2&1 win over Christo Lamprecht in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tied for 17th at the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship (Dec. 8-11) in Melalane, South Africa with a 9-under-par 279 (71-70-70-68) … played alongside Ernie Els in the opening two rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship … also made the cut and tied for 35th at the DP World Tour's Investec South African Open Championship (Dec. 1-4) in Johannesburg at 5-under-par 283 (69-65-72-77) … tallied a 3-2 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … finished 12th at The Stephens Cup (Oct. 10-12) at 4-under-par 212 (69-71-72) … in his collegiate debut, tied for 20th at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 16-18) at 4-over-par 214 (72-72-70) … competed for South Africa in the prestigious 2022 World Amateur Team Championship (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) in Paris … advanced to Match Play at the 2022 U.S. Amateur … tied for 11th in stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur … claimed a five-shot victory (65-70-67-68=270, -14) to win the prestigious Brabazon Trophy at Saunton Golf Club in England in May 2022 … posted six wins during the 2021 season, including the Cape Province Open and the South African Amateur Championship … 2020 and 2021 Silver Salver Champion.
Brian Stark: Has competed in each of UT's first eight events this spring after enrolling at Texas prior to the spring semester and sports a 70.68 stroke average (second on the team) … recently announced his return to UT for his fifth year of collegiate eligibility for the 2023-24 season … graduate transfer who spent his previous three seasons at Oklahoma State … No. 42 in the most recent GolfStat national individual rankings (May 20) … No. 39 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (May 17) … during his seven stroke-play tourney appearances, he has registered two top-five and three top-10 individual finishes … has shot par or better in 14 of his 22 stroke-play rounds this spring, including 10 rounds in the 60s … recorded his best finish as a Longhorn with a third-place showing at the Big 12 Championship (April 24-26) at 6-under-par 274 (69-72-67-66) … claimed a spot on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team ... tied for fourth at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Mar. 27-28) at 9-under-par 204 (68-71-65) … his 6-under 65 in the final round at the Valspar Collegiate marked his low 18-hole score at Texas … tied for eighth at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) at 6-under-par 210 (71-70-69) … earned third-team All-America honors as a junior at Oklahoma State in 2022 from both the GCAA and Golfweek … two-time GCAA All-America Scholar (as a sophomore and junior) … claimed All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors as a junior … tied for 15th at the 2022 NCAA Championship at 6-over-par 286 … had a season-best tie for third place at The Carmel Cup at 5-under-par 211 (73-70-68) in 2021-22 … also placed 13th at the Big 12 Championship and tied for seventh at the NCAA Columbus Regional in his junior year … first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore in 2020-21 … advanced to the quarterfinals of match play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
Keaton Vo: Has competed in 12 of UT's first 13 events and boasts a 72.32 stroke average … has shot par or better in 10 of his 28 stroke-play rounds this year, including four rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best second-place individual finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 8-under-par 208 (67-71-70) … tallied a career-low 18-hole score of 5-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) … carded a 3-under 68 in the opening round of the NCAA Bath Regional (May 15) that included a hole-in-one on the fifth hole (6-iron at 202 yards) … tied for fourth in the stroke-play portion of the East Lake Cup (Oct. 24) with a 2-under-par 70 … tied for 19th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 3-under-par 213 (74-70-69) … posted a 4-0-1 individual record at the Big 12 Match Play Championship (Oct. 17-19) … medalist at the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur with a 36-hole score of 9-under-par 134 (69-65) … 2022 Texas Class 5A state individual champion and led Anderson High School to the team championship … tabbed the No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 7 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022 … three-time Rolex Junior All-American … member of the West Team at the 2020 Wyndham Cup … registered seven top-10 finishes on the AJGA Tour, including a tie for second at the 2021 Jackie Burke Invitational … won individual titles at the 2020 George Hannon Junior Invitational and the 2019 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Lake Oconee.
Mason Nome: Has competed in eight of UT's first 13 events and sports a 72.22 stroke average … earned his degree in Finance from UT's prestigious McCombs School of Business in May … No. 95 in current World Amateur Golf Rankings (May 17) … has shot par or better in 10 of his 23 stroke-play rounds this year, including five rounds in the 60s … tied for 12th at the Big 12 Championship (April 24-26) at 8-over-par 288 (72-71-69-76) ... claimed individual medalist honors (first of his collegiate career) at The Spring Indy at WinStar (April 11-12), an individual competition that included a field of 15 collegiate golfers … posted a 54-hole score of 8-under-par 208 (69-68-71) at The Spring Indy … recorded a 2&1 victory against Stanford's Barclay Brown during the third-place match at The Stephens Cup (Oct. 12) … 2022 PING All-Central Region team selection … posted a 72.05 stroke average and registered four top-10 and six top-20 individual finishes in 12 stroke-play events during the 2021-22 season … went 1-1-1 during the 2022 NCAA Match Play, including the clinching 2-up win over Jonas Baumgartner (Oklahoma State) in the quarterfinals … advanced to Match Play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur … two-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team selection (2021 and 2022) … 2020-21 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-American Scholar.
Jacob Sosa: Has competed in 10 of UT's first 13 events and boasts a 72.28 stroke average … No. 143 in the most recent GolfStat national individual rankings (May 20) … in his eight stroke-play tourney appearances, he has registered three top-20 individual finishes … has shot par or better in 10 of his 25 stroke-play rounds this year, including four rounds in the 60s ... earned a collegiate-best third-place individual finish at the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at 7-under-par 209 (61-74-74) … set a UT program record for low 18-hole score with an 11-under-par 61 in the opening round of the Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30) … had three eagles, five birdies and no bogeys during that round … tied for 16th at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (April 1-2) at 3-under-par 213 (72-72-69) … posted a 1-up victory over Connor Howe in the match-play event against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) … tied for 19th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (Feb. 26-28) with a 3-under-par 213 (71-70-72) … led Austin Westlake High School to three consecutive Texas Class 6A state team titles (no tourney in 2020 due to COVID) … posted individual finishes of third, runner-up and tied for fifth during his three state championship tournaments … tabbed the No. 3 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 14 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022 … first-team Rolex Junior All-American in 2021 … member of the West Team at the 2021 Wyndham Cup … placed third at the 2020 Texas State Amateur and earned the win at the 2019 Texas State Junior Championship.
Players Mentioned
