As we look for signs of what’s to come this Spring, we have to start with the marquee events from this Fall. Tournaments like the East Lake Cup, Fighting Illini Invitational, and Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational always feature top-tier programs — proven winners. Who has emerged amongst the usual suspects? 

Well, Auburn defeated Florida State in the televised East Lake Cup final, while Georgia Tech edged out Arizona State in Illinois, and Oklahoma secured a decisive win in Fort Worth over runner-up Texas. The top two teams at each of these events are undoubtedly legitimate threats for the national title in May.

However, a couple of challengers have really caught my attention as well. Beyond the previously mentioned marquee events, the Valero Texas Collegiate stood out to me as an interesting event from the Fall.

UTSA had gathered an interesting mix of perennial powerhouses and confident challengers, at TPC San Antonio. Top teams like reigning National Champions Auburn, as well as Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Georgia, teed it up—all with serious history and national title potential.

Then there was Ole Miss, challenger number one, led by Head Coach Chris Malloy. Malloy has had a solid track record since returning to his alma mater in 2014. As a former opposing coach, my perception of the Rebels under Malloy was always that they seemed confident, ambitious, and hard working. 

The culture Coach Malloy has fostered has produced standout players like Jackson Suber and Braden Thornberry, the 2017 individual national champion. Solid team seasons, such as last year’s ‘two-seed’ at NCAA Regionals, have been the norm, but this season feels different.

With five players now ranked in the top 100 individually, and led by junior Michael La Sasso (#4, pictured above), the Rebels have depth and consistency that suggests they could be a genuine national threat. Ole Miss is currently the #1 ranked team in the National Collegiate Golf Rankings and I’m sure they’re very motivated to keep it that way.

The LSU Tigers (below), challenger number two, also traveled to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Collegiate. First-year Head Coach Jake Amos previously led East Tennessee State to impressive success. 

The status as ’challenger’ might be unfair for the Tigers as they have five national championships in their men’s golf history. However, recent years haven’t been the strongest for LSU, and the first season under a new head coach can be unpredictable. However, the Tigers have assembled an impressive lineup of returners, transfers, and freshmen — a complex mix that Amos has juggled skillfully. 

As a former coach, I can say from experience how difficult it is to balance all these categories of players. Yet, LSU has found the right mix under Amos, already in the first year, and one can imagine the confident momentum building in Baton Rouge. The Tigers currently find themselves ranked seventh in the rankings and I’m sure they will be aiming for Championships this Spring.

So, how did the ‘proven winners’ and these ‘new challengers’ fare at the Valero Texas Collegiate? Oklahoma (above) asserted its strength with a commanding victory, finishing 30 under par. Ole Miss impressed as well, coming in second, with Virginia, Auburn, and Vanderbilt rounding out the top five. 

LSU had a challenging week in Texas, finishing 11th, but I suspect the week was an anomaly for the Tigers. Perhaps the Valero was a preview of a “diet” National Championship? Time will tell.

The Valero Texas Collegiate and other marquee events from this Fall have set the stage for what promises to be an exciting Spring. However, let’s take a closer look at some teams further down the rankings that might fly under the radar but have the potential to make a big impact.

The 34th-ranked University of Colorado jumps off the page with their scoring to par thus far. Incredibly, in five stroke play events this Fall, they are a combined 123 under par! While favorable conditions may have played a role, the Buffaloes’ consistency has been undeniable — they shot under par in 13 of their 15 rounds and have yet to finish outside the top three. 

Colorado has been led by a couple of fourth year athletes Justin Biwer (above) and Dylan McDermott who have both placed in the top-15 in all of their events. Head Coach Roy Edwards’ squad undoubtedly has the ability to go low and is a must-watch team. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Buffs fare during the Spring, when they are likely to see more wind and tougher conditions.

I’ve dubbed Pacific the ‘Second Year Team’ due to their impressive lineup, which includes three sophomores in the top 300 individual rankings. However, a better label might be the ‘Young Guns’ as Head Coach John Cook boasts one of the youngest rosters in collegiate golf: two freshmen, three sophomores, and five juniors. 

Despite their youth, Pacific ranks second in the nation for team rounds under par (11), trailing only Colorado. Their potential is undeniable, not just for this Spring but for future seasons as well. It’ll be exciting to see how this young squad handles tougher conditions in the months ahead.

The Niners’ impressive bogey rate is a testament to their discipline and consistency

UNC Charlotte, ranked #29th,  are the ‘Bogey Avoiders’ so far this season. Head Coach Ryan Cabbage’s team made just 127 bogeys this Fall (14.70%). This percentage outperforms every team ranked above them. They’ve played in some good tournaments with historically tougher scoring. 

In my opinion, the Niners’ impressive bogey rate, especially given the strength of their tournaments, is a testament to their discipline and consistency. This level of bogey avoidance is legitimate and could serve as a strong indicator of their potential success in the Spring when conditions and competition become even more challenging.

Finally, with the chance of being a bit biased, I’d like to highlight what I’ve labeled the ‘Trouble Avoiders’ — teams who successfully avoid double bogeys or worse. The rationale mirrors that of the ‘Bogey Avoiders’ — teams that excel at minimizing mistakes often see this characteristic translate into strong performances during the Spring and at Championships. 

No.2-ranked Arizona State owns the lowest double or worse rate (1.42%), closely followed by 3rd-ranked Auburn (1.50%), and 21st-ranked Texas Tech (1.50%).

We’ve mentioned ASU and Auburn previously in this article. Texas Tech however, has gone under the radar as the Red Raiders have played in challenging tournaments this fall, securing only one top-five finish. As I’ve coached at Tech, I’m not completely nonpartisan here, but this is a great omen for the Red Raiders, and hopefully points to something big coming in the Spring for Greg Sands’ crew. 

Even with a couple Freshmen getting significant playing time, the Red Raiders made just 13 doubles or worse this Fall. That points to high caliber players and good coaching, in my opinion.

The plot has really thickened this Fall, and I’m sure a handful of other teams not mentioned in this piece will make some noise as well. I can’t wait for how the Spring will unfold. 

Sign up for Mikkel’s SubStack newsletter