September 12, 2024 • by Dan Davies
This week saw first outings for many of the strongest’s men’s teams in DI. We round-up the action from the Folds of Honor Collegiate, the Inverness Intercollegiate, the Sahalee Players Championship, the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and more
The new Crimson Reserve facility did not have long to wait for a new trophy to add to its collection as Coach Jay Seawell’s men opened their season with a win at the Folds of Honor Collegiate. The Tide held an 11-shot advantage after round one, Illinois hit back in round two but Alabama then stood firm to beat their closest rivals by seven and Texas by 10.
In his first appearance for Alabama, Dominic Clemons (pictured above with Alabama Assistant Coach Forrest Schultz), a transfer from Stetson, continued his remarkable streak of form by winning the individual title. Over the summer, the Englishman shot two rounds of 65 and a 62 on the fabled links of Muirfield to claim the Scottish Stroke Play Championship, reached the final of the British Amateur and then qualified for the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
After hitting the front in round two at American Dunes, Clemons held off Texas’ fast-charging Tommy Morrison, who shot 65 (-6) in the final round. The genial giant from Dallas enjoyed a banner summer of his own, of course, which included becoming the first American to win the European Amateur Championship and earning a place in the British Open.
Jackson Buchanan of Illinois finished third on six under par.
Auburn’s long winning streak came to an end as Virginia came from way back to take the Inverness Intercollegiate title against a strong field in Toledo.
A 12-shot swing on the final day was brought about by the Cavaliers closing with a six-under-par 270 while Auburn stumbled to an uncharacteristic six-over in the third round. Virginia’s Ben James and Paul Chang were the catalysts, both carding final rounds of 66 (-3)
It was the first time in eight tournaments that the Tigers had failed to take home the spoils, although 2024 Haskins Award winner and National Freshman of the Year Jackson Koivun signalled his intent for the new season by claiming the individual title. Koivun shot rounds of 63, 65 and 70 to finish two clear of SMU’s Enrique Dimayuga, who opened and closed with rounds of 64.
Oklahoma and Vanderbilt finished T3, with Texas Tech in 5th place.
Seven of the top-25 teams in the 2024/25 Pre-season Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll faced off at the Sahalee Players Championship in Washington
Arizona State, ranked number two, emerged victorious, finishing 11 shots clear of Florida. The Gators did manage to close the gap by firing a best of the day -3 in the final round.
The Sun Devils had three players place in the top six individually, including 2024 US Amateur Champion Jose Luis Ballester, who was T2 alongside teammate and defending champion Preston Summerhays. Arizona State’s Connor Williams finished two further back in T6.
Individual honors went to Oregon junior Aiden Krafft (above), who was under par in all three rounds. Kraft sunk a clutch par putt on his final hole to seal a one-shot win and claim his first title over two of the top-ranked male players in college golf.
‘Amazing couple of days for Aiden,’ Head Coach Casey Martin told the Oregon website. ‘He has been up early every morning working on his game, grinding away. I'm so happy he gets to enjoy the results of his hard work.’
It was the first season-opening individual title by a Ducks player since Norman Xiong won at the 2017 Rod Myers Invitational, his first of six that season.
LSU came from behind to edge Ole Miss at Tennessee National, giving new Head Coach Jake Amos the perfect start. The Tigers finished 23 under for the tournament, two clear of Ole Miss and 19 ahead of hosts Tennessee and South Carolina in T3.
Senior Algot Kleen (above), who followed Amos to LSU from East Tennessee State, led the way, closing with rounds of 65 and 67 to ease clear of the field and take medalist honors on 12 under par. Cameron Tankersley of Ole Miss finished runner-up on -8.
Iowa State opened the season with a win in the Gopher Invitational hosted by Minnesota. The Cyclones closed with a five-under-par final round at Windsong Farm to pip their hosts by a shot.
The University of Iowa went into the final round leading by a single stroke but slumped to a closing 297 (13 over), allowing their rivals to pass them, aided by a superb closing 65 from Iowa State debutant Luke Metcalf.
Nebraska finished third overall, with sophomore Rudy Sautron topping the individual leaderboard on five under par, one shot clear of Rutgers’ Noah Kumar