May 7, 2025 • by Mikkel Bjerch-Andresen
Former college coach and golf analyst Mikkel Bjerch-Andresen crunches the numbers and picks the 30 teams he believes will make it through to Omni La Costa later this month
Louisiana State (#6), Oklahoma (#7), Vanderbilt (#18), Pepperdine (#19), Tennessee (#30),
Arizona (#31), Stanford (#42), Wake Forest (#43), Arkansas, Fayetteville (#55), Florida Gulf Coast (#56), Kent State (#78), Princeton (#82), Howard (#252)
LSU, Oklahoma
Both (above) and (below) have remained in the top-10 team rankings all year. Furthermore, both teams have five players in the top-150 individually. The Tigers are coming off a second-place finish in the stroke play portion of the SEC Championship, while the Sooners finished fourth. I’d argue Ryan Hybl’s team (below) hasn’t had quite the spring they’ve been looking for, while Jake Amos’ squad has remained a touch more consistent. However, they are both excellent, well-coached teams, both of which should be ready for postseason and cruise through this regional.
Vanderbilt
It will be very interesting to see Scott Limbaugh’s lineup for this regional. Gordon Sargent (who has earned his PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour U accelerated program), has been struggling with his game of late and is currently ranled #522. The Commodores finished 13th out of 16 teams at the SEC Championship a couple of weeks ago. However, we all know what Sargent and crew are capable of, and I will always back a Scott Limbaugh-coached team in the postseason. I think Vandy finds their footing with or without Sargeant and makes a postseason run.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest has had an up-and-down spring. However, after their worst performance of the year at the Valspar at the end of March, Jerry Haas’ squad has played solid golf. They finished 6th in the stroke play portion of the ACC Championship. Senior Marshall Meisel (#148) had a good showing at ACC. Scotty Kennon (#87), another senior, is a proven player ranked in the top-100. The Demon Deacons have experience and high standards. Since 2009, 20 #8-seeds have advanced through regionals (22.2%).
LSU, Oklahoma, Vandy, Pepperdine, Tennessee
Auburn (#1), Texas A&M (#12), UCLA (#13), SMU (#24), Georgia Tech (#25)
Oregon (#36), Purdue (#37), Arkansas at Little Rock (#48), TCU (#50), College of Charleston (SC) (#62), New Mexico State (#63), Loyola Maryland (#142), USC Upstate (#227)
Auburn
The best team in college golf over the past two years, the , are back in form. Actually, they’ve been in form for the past 20 months, they are just really hitting their stride as world-class player Jackson Koivun (above) is back to firing on all cylinders. Koivun claimed the individual title at SECs last week on the way to leading his team to winning the stroke play portion of the championship. Unfortunately for Nick Clinard’s squad, eventual SEC Champion Florida clipped them in the semifinals of the match play portion of the event.
I think the upset will only fuel the defending national champions. The #1 team in the country has the numbers to back it all up – #1 in individual rounds under par (94), #1 in birdies (876), #1 in team rounds under par (26), #6 in double bogeys or worse (76), #1 in par 3s (3.02), #2 in par 4s (4.02), and #7 in par 5s (4.67). Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, they also have the most holes-in-one this year (4). It all adds up to #1 in the country and a “take it to the bank” badge for NCAA Regionals. Only five #1 seeds since 2009 have failed to advance from men’s regionals – Auburn will not make it six.
College of Charleston (SC)
A few numbers jump off the page for me when looking at . Mitchell Krywulycz’s team ranks in the top-25 in both double bogeys (23rd), and par-5 scoring (16th).
They also have an elite player in Kieron Van Wyk (ranked 27th individually). Although the Cougars haven’t played too well in April, this is a really good #10 seed playing in a relatively familiar region, and #10-seeds have advanced through men’s DI regionals 12.2% of the time since 2009.
Auburn, Texas A&M, UCLA, Georgia Tech, College of Charleston
Arizona State (#5), Florida (#8), Utah (#17), South Carolina (#20), USF (#29)
Colorado (#32), UNC Charlotte (#41), Kansas (#44), Colorado State (#54), Kansas State (#57), Elon (#68), Coastal Carolina (#85), Oral Roberts (#130), Seattle U (#140)
ASU, Florida
The are an elite team that’s shown they can handle various conditions. Matt Thurmond’s team had a very respectable finish at their first Big 12 Championship, finishing runner-up to Oklahoma State.
The are coming off winning arguably the hardest conference championship, the SEC Championship. JC Deacon’s team is brimming with confidence and they have figured out the postseason puzzle over the past few years. The Gators now have multiple SEC Championships under Deacon (2023 and 2025, below), in addition to a National Championship in 2023.
Colorado, UNC Charlotte
has some interesting underlying numbers suggesting they could be high upside. The Buffaloes rank in the top-10 in eagles (28), birdies (840), team rounds under par (23), individual rounds under par (73), par 4 scoring (4.05), and par 5 scoring (4.64). Roy Edwards’ team is coming off a sixth-place finish at the Big 12 Championship which might not sound like much, but I view it as a decent showing on a tough golf course.
They’re led by fourth-year players Justin Biwer (#69, above) and Dylan McDermott (#79) who both rank in the top-100 individually. Here’s a team with seniority which I’m convinced can handle mild conditions with their underlying numbers. Additionally, since 2009, #6 seeds have advanced through regionals as often as #5 seeds (44.4%). Watch out for the Buffs.
is a team I’ve written about previously. Ryan Cabbage’s squad gets my attention as they rank 3rd in bogeys (421), and 15th in double bogeys or worse (87). I suspect the 49ers could hang with almost anybody when it comes to limiting mistakes on postseason setups.
In addition to the compelling underlying numbers, UNC Charlotte is in form and has momentum. They just won the AAC Championship in dramatic fashion by taking down South Florida in a playoff. # seeds have advanced out of men’s regionals 25.6% of the time since 2009. We should expect 1.5 #7 seeds to advance this year, so keep your eye on UNC Charlotte.
ASU, Florida, Utah, Colorado, UNC Charlotte
Texas (#4), Virginia (#9), Alabama (#16), Duke (#21), Mississippi State (#28)
BYU (#33), San Diego (#40), Santa Clara (#45), Cal (#53), Grand Canyon (#58), Sam Houston (#66), East Tennessee State (#88), Central Arkansas (#161), Fairfield (#224)
Texas, Virginia
had a poor showing at SECs where they finished 7th in the stroke play portion before being eliminated in the first round of match play. Christian Maas was really the only Longhorn to play well, finishing 3rd individually. However, I don’t expect the Longhorns to have any problems getting through this regional.
John Fields’ team has four All-American-type players in Daniel Bennett (#4 national individual ranking), Christiaan Maas (#8, below), Tommy Morrison (#16), and Luke Potter (#53). The squad has incredible underlying numbers in anything regarding limiting mistakes — 2nd in bogeys, 4th in double bogeys or worse, 5th in par 3s, 3rd in par 4s, and 4th in par 5s.
is a great team carrying potentially the most momentum in the country as they’re coming off the program’s first ACC Championship. Winning three matches to clinch the title wasn’t a fluke; Bowen Sargent’s team also finished top of the leaderboard in the stroke play portion of the championship. Four players placed in the top-10 individually, including Ben James (#14, below). Despite the cross-country trip, I expect the Cavaliers to cruise through.
San Diego
has had a bit of a mixed season. In Head Coach Evan Emerick’s first year, the Toreros have won three times (including a hallmark victory at the Prestige, below). However, they have also had some poor performances, like their eight-place finish at the WCC Championship last week. Although their last couple of outings have been poor, the upside is clear.
Maybe most importantly from the numbers, USD are nation-best this year in a predictive metric for postseason success, in my opinion. San Diego has made the fewest double bogeys all year (63) by a clear margin. Yes, the Toreros might have played in somewhat mild conditions, but that’s a metric we have to highlight.
Texas, Virginia, Alabama, Duke, Mississippi State
Ole Miss (#3), Florida State (#11), San Diego State (#15), Georgia (#22), Louisville (#27)
Northwestern (#34)Notre Dame (#39),Southern California (#52), Michigan State (#59), Furman (#65), Augusta (#106), Davidson (#139), Florida A&M (#243)
Ole Miss, FSU, San Diego State
The form of has been touch-and-go as of late. Despite finishing in a disappointing 10th place and failing to qualify for the match play portion of the SEC Championship, the Rebels are still a combined 64 under par for the month of April. Chris Malloy’s team (below) has been elite this year and I expect them to cruise through here.
has had one of the best spring campaigns in the country, playing their way from #33 national ranking to a #2 seed at regionals. The Seminoles have not finished outside the top-three this all spring. Luke Clanton (below) has missed just one collegiate tournament, and won individually three times. Trey Jones’ team will be excited to host at an incredible venue here, and I suspect they have high expectations for the next month of golf.
has won three of their last four tournaments including the Mountain West Championship. The Aztecs are a combined 60 under par just in April. The form for Ryan Donovan’s team will outweigh the tough travel and unfamiliar grasses.
Michigan State
The Spartans don’t have convincing underlying numbers, but they have sneaky form. Casey Lubahn’s team was well outside the number for an at-large bid to regionals just a couple of months ago. However, their win at the Colleton River Collegiate helped their team ranking jump 15 spots.
Since then, the Spartans have played fairly solidly, including a third-place finish most recently at the very strong Big Ten Championship. Yes, Seminole is not exactly synonymous with Michigan golf, but I think the Spartans will continue their solid play. #9 seeds have made it out of men’s regionals 21.1% of the time since 2009.
Ole Miss, FSU, San Diego State, Louisville, Michigan State
Oklahoma State (#2), North Carolina (#10), Illinois (#14), Texas Tech (#23), CSU, Long Beach (#26)
UNLV (#35), Houston (#38), Marquette (#47), Troy (#51), Pacific (#60), North Carolina State (#64), Illinois State (#136), Wright State (#163)
OSU, UNC, Illinois
The Oklahoma State Cowboys are right where we expect them to be, a #1 seed at regionals and in incredible form. Alan Bratton’s team has won four times this spring, including three straight. They’ve been able to do it on easy golf courses, such as their Amer Ari title in February where they shot 64 under par. They’ve also been able to outlast the competition in tough conditions, such as last week at Southern Hills during the Big 12 Championship.
University of North Carolina is led by David Ford, (below) who is the #1 ranked player nationally. Ford has won five times this year, including three in a row earlier this spring. Admittedly, the rest of Andrew DiBitetto’s line-up has been a bit hot-and-cold as of late. However, the Tar Heels showed some quality during ACC’s as they finished second in the stroke play portion. I expect them to advance here.
After starting the spring a bit shaky, University of Illinois has steadied the ship and is playing solidly and consistently as of late. The Fighting Illini finished runner-up at Big Tens by a single stroke to UCLA. I’m certainly not going to make the mistake of underestimating a Mike Small-coached team in the postseason. As hosts here as well, a hungry and disciplined Illinois will cruise through.
Pacific, North Carolina State
University of the Pacific was one of the last at-large teams to make NCAA Regionals this year. But don’t get it twisted, the Tigers are more than capable of causing disruption. John Cook’s team has made massive leaps this year, and is making their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2019. Pacific is in decent form, coming off two top-four finishes, including at the WCC Championship last week. They’ve been around the bubble for a while, and I suspect they will enter regional play with low shoulders.
Pacific might have played in mild conditions, but their ability to score is undeniable as the Tigers are 10th in birdies nationally (760), 7th in team rounds under par (22), and 2nd in individual rounds under par (90). Finally, the Tigers lead the country in par 5s (4.62), and total eagles (41). Watch out for them in the right conditions; 12.2% of #10 seeds have made it through Regionals since 2009.
Long-time North Carolina State Coach, Press McPhaul, has announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season. The Wolfpack (above) didn’t perform too well at the ACC Championship, but I suspect the lineup will be extra motivated in sending their coach out the right way. Just five #11 seeds have advanced out of Regionals on the men’s side since 2009 (5.6%) – but what a story it would be for the Wolfpack to make it six.
OSU, UNC, Illinois, TTU, Long Beach