WILMINGTON, N.C.- Auburn Men's Golf entered the Williams Cup as the No. 4 team in the country, but struggled to find their best form over the three rounds. After a solid opening round of 291, the Tigers slipped back with a 300 in round two and finished with a 293 in the final round to end the tournament ninth overall at +20. While the team showed moments of solid play, the cumulative score reflected a performance that fell short of their usual standards, especially in a highly competitive field.
Junior Jackson Koivun led Auburn individually, finishing tied for 12th with a total score of even par 216 (69-74-73). Junior Cayden Pope, sophomore Billy Davis, junior Josiah Gilbert, and freshman Logan Reilly all contributed, but none were able to break under par.
Freshman Jake Albert competed as an individual, finishing tied for 23rd at +4.
Auburn will look to regroup and build momentum in the coming weeks as they aim to return to their top form. The tournament featured several strong performances from top programs, with Florida dominating the leaderboard. The Gators posted consistent rounds of 276, 276, and 297 to finish first at 15-under par. Texas moved steadily as well, finishing second at 3-under after rounds of 284, 287, and 290. North Carolina and Louisville both stayed in contention throughout the event, tying for third place at 9-over.
Other notable teams included Notre Dame in fifth and NC State in sixth, both displaying competitive rounds over the three days. The depth of talent and consistent scoring across the top teams underscored the tough competition Auburn faced in Wilmington.
Up next for Auburn is The Clerico tournament at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Tigers will face Oral Roberts over three rounds Oct. 27-28 as they look to get back in a groove and build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
