Auburn senior J.M. Butler capped off a dominant performance at La Costa by securing the anchor match on Wednesday, clinching the Tigers’ first NCAA title in men’s golf with a win over Florida State.
“A college career isn’t complete without a national championship,” Butler said. “This is for all my teammates who push me every single day.”
Butler never trailed in any of his three matches, proving pivotal for Auburn in the decisive final match. Holding a 1-up lead over Florida State’s Luke Clanton, Butler maintained his advantage with a crucial 8-foot par putt on the 13th hole. The tide turned on the 15th hole when Clanton’s approach shot ran into the water, resulting in a double bogey and giving Butler a 2-up lead. Butler then saved par from a bunker on the 16th and sealed the victory by hitting his approach to 8 feet on the final hole.
Clanton, needing a chip-in to stay alive, saw his shot hit the back of the cup and bounce out. Overcome with emotion, Clanton dropped to the ground, while Butler calmly rolled his putt close for a conceded par and a 2-and-1 win.
“I was feeling nothing,” Butler said of his nerves. “I’ve prepared for this moment, I’ve worked extremely hard for this. I knew I had to get out of my way and I’d come out on top.”
Clanton was left devastated, consoled by his teammates as Florida State coach Trey Jones reflected on the tough loss. “Second place in the national championship is something we’ll look back on as a good season. But we came here to win, and it’s disappointing,” Jones said.
Auburn, seeded sixth of eight teams, navigated past North Carolina and narrowly defeated Ohio State in the semifinals. The championship match was poised to be decided by the anchor match.
Auburn freshman Jackson Koivun finished with a perfect 3-0 record in NCAA match play, securing a 5-and-4 victory over Brett Roberts with a chip-in on the 14th hole. Brendan Valdes added another point for Auburn with a 4-and-3 win over Frederik Kjettrup.
Florida State fought hard for their points. Cole Anderson and Tyler Weaver both held 3-up leads with three holes to play. Auburn’s Carson Bacha and Josiah Gilbert made them work for it, but Anderson and Weaver eventually secured their wins.
Butler’s clinching match, however, ensured Auburn’s historic title, triggering a joyous celebration for the Tigers.