Augusta State carded a 2-over 290 Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Florida Regional at Golden Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Fla.
The Jaguars, seeded No. 2 in the regional and ranked sixth in the nation, are part of a three-way tie for eighth place. ASU is just five shots out of the top five and only eight off the lead.
Seniors Carter Newman and Henrik Norlander paced the Jags with a pair of 1-under 71’s. Patrick Reed turned in an even-par 72 and senior Olle Bengtsson, playing in his first regional, posted a 4-over 76 while fellow senior Mitch Krywulycz signed for an 82.
Newman, Norlander and Bengtsson all capped their rounds with birdies on the par-5, 555-yard 18th hole. Bengtsson drained a 15-footer for birdie and Newman dropped a long-range putt from nearly 40 feet. He made six birdies during his round, including a stretch of four in a row on holes six through nine.
Newman and Norlander are tied for 11th place, while Reed is 25th, Bengtsson is 58th and Krywulycz is 69th.
No. 5 Florida combined for a 6-under 282 and grabbed a one-shot lead over fellow SEC member Arkansas. The No. 17 Razorbacks turned in a 5-under 283 while Baylor and North Carolina State are tied for third after a pair of 4-under 284’s. Oregon and Georgia Southern share fifth following a pair of 3-under 285’s.
Oregon’s Jake Dukeminier fired a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over Kennesaw State’s Ben Greene and Philipp Westermann of Southeastern Louisiana, who each posted a 5-under 67. Four players, headlined by Florida’s Bank Vongvanij, are tied for fourth at 4-under 68.
ASU will be paired with Missouri and Jacksonville State for Friday’s second round. Krywulycz is first off the No. 10 tee for the Jags at 8:50 a.m., followed by Bengtsson at 9:00, Reed at 9:10, Norlander at 9:20 and Newman at 9:30.
Designed by Ron Garl, Golden Ocala Golf Club (www.goldenocala.com) originally opened in 1986 and is located between Gainesville and Orlando and only 15 minutes from downtown Ocala. The course was named of America’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses by Golfweek from 2004 to 2007. Other accolades include being selected as the “Best Replica Course in the U.S.” by Travel and Leisure in 2004. The course was also named to the Best in State of Florida list by Golf Digest in 2007.
ASU is looking to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 12th time in 16 NCAA Regional appearances. A total of 81 teams were invited to six regional sites. The top five teams from each regional, well as the low individual not a member of those teams, will advance to the NCAA Championships, slated for May 31-June 5 at Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater, Okla.
For the third straight year, the NCAA's modified format for the postseason features six regionals around the nation. Thirteen teams and 10 individuals not on those teams will compete at each of three regionals while the other three regionals will have 14 teams and five individuals not on those teams.
