Carlsbad, Calif. – Sophomore Carson Kim (Yorba Linda, Calif.) recorded a 2-under-par 70 on Friday, guiding Georgia Tech’s golf team to a total of 5-over-par 293, securing a tie for 14th place after the first round of the NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championship at the Omni LaCosta Spa and Resort in Carlsbad, California.
While Kim was the sole Yellow Jacket to finish under par, the team also saw solid performances from junior Hiroshi Tai (Singapore), who began his title defense with an even-par 72, and sophomore Kale Fontenot (Lafayette, La.), who shot a 73. Redshirt freshman Benjamin Reuter contributed a score of 78 (+6).
Kim’s score placed him tied for 16th on the individual leaderboard, while Tai’s 72 put him in a tie for 39th. Last year, Tai won the championship with a score of 3-under-par.
Georgia Tech’s total score ranked sixth among the 15 teams competing in the morning session. The best morning rounds were posted by Colorado and California, both at 289 (+1).
The Yellow Jackets’ second round starts at 12:12 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Saturday. As the No. 20 seed, they will compete alongside No. 19 Texas Tech and No. 21 South Florida in the initial rounds. Pairings for later rounds will be determined by the standings.
A total of 30 teams and six individuals are vying for the championship through 54 holes of stroke play until Sunday, after which the top 15 teams and the top nine individuals not part of those teams will advance to the final 18-hole round on Monday. The individual champion will be crowned at the conclusion, and the leading eight teams will proceed to match play.
Highlights from Georgia Tech’s opening round at the NCAA Championship.
“I’ve focused on being more patient and not getting frustrated with bad shots. Over 54 or 72 holes, I trust the results will come.”
Carson Kim reflects on his strong recent performances
TECH LINEUP – Kim has shown consistent improvement since April, finishing 10th at the Ford Collegiate and tied for 18th at the NCAA Auburn Regional last week. His average score over the past 11 rounds has been 71.9, a full stroke better than his season average.
“Patience is key, and I knew I had the skills. It’s rewarding to see recent results,” Kim stated. He recorded five birdies against three bogeys, while Tai achieved four birdies despite two bogeys and a double-bogey. The team made a strong close, with all players making birdies on the par-4 15th.
LEADERBOARD SUMMARY – Oklahoma, ranked sixth, leads with a score of 8-under-par 282, five strokes ahead of No. 4 Texas, No. 7 Florida, and No. 9 Florida State, all at 3-under-par 285.
Defending champion Auburn (No. 1) and No. 5 Arizona State are tied for fifth at 2-under 286. Colorado and California, despite firmer greens and wind, ended the morning tied at 289, now sitting in eighth place.
No. 22 Georgia trails at 291 (+3) in 11th place, followed by No. 24 Texas Tech and Troy, both at 292 (+4). Georgia Tech is in a five-way tie for 14th at 293 (+5).
Phichaksn Maichon from Texas A&M leads individually with a 6-under-par 66, just barely ahead of Tommy Morrison from Texas and Carter Loflin from Georgia, who each scored 67 (-5). Eight golfers are tied at 68 (-4).
EVENT DETAILS
NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championship
- Dates: May 23-28. The format consists of 72 holes of stroke play with the lowest 4 of 5 scores accounting for the team’s daily total, determining the individual champ and seeding the top 8 teams for match play.
- Venue: Omni LaCosta Resort & Spa, Carlsbad, Calif. (par 72, 7,548 yards).
- Participating Teams (by seed): Auburn, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Texas, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Florida, Florida State, Virginia, Texas A&M, Illinois, UCLA, Vanderbilt, BYU, South Carolina, Pepperdine, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, South Florida, Colorado, UNLV, Purdue, San Diego, Wake Forest, New Mexico, Troy, California, Augusta.
- Best Finish: Runner-up (1993, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2023).
- Individual Titles: Four (Watts Gunn 1927, Charlie Yates 1934, Troy Matteson 2002, Hiroshi Tai 2024).
- Schedule (All times EDT):
- Saturday – Stroke play round 2, 9:30 a.m.
- Sunday – Stroke play round 3, 9:30 a.m.
- Monday – Stroke play round 4, 1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel coverage, 6-10 p.m.)
- Tuesday – Quarterfinal matches, 9:50 a.m. (Golf Channel coverage, 1-3:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday – Semifinal matches, 4:15 p.m. (Golf Channel coverage, 6-10 p.m.)
- Wednesday – Championship match, 5:25 p.m. (Golf Channel coverage, 6-10 p.m.)
*The individual champion will be crowned, and the top 8 teams will be seeded for match play.
Full Steam Ahead
This $500 million fundraising effort aims to elevate Georgia Tech athletics to championship competitiveness in the evolving landscape of intercollegiate sports. Funds will support vital renovations across various sports venues. Visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for detailed plans and donation opportunities.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Under head coach Bruce Heppler for 30 seasons, Georgia Tech’s golf team has secured 73 tournament wins and has made 33 NCAA Championship appearances, finishing as national runners-up five times. Engage with Georgia Tech Golf on social media: Facebook, X (@GTGolf), and Instagram. For further details on the program, consult Ramblinwreck.com.
