LSU men's golf third at Marana, 30-under

LSU men’s golf advanced out of the NCAA Marana Regional on Wednesday after finishing third at 30-under-par, extending the Tigers’ season to the NCAA Championship finals in Carlsbad, California. LSU entered the week as the No. 2 seed in the 14-team field at The Gallery Golf Club in Marana, Arizona, and was one of the top five teams from the site to move on. The NCAA says the regional round ran from May 18 through May 20, with the low five teams and low individual at each site qualifying for the championship finals. LSU’s men’s golf account posted the final result and a live scoring link on May 20. ### How did LSU put itself in position before the final day? LSU opened with consecutive 9-under 279 team rounds on May 18 and May 19, which left the Tigers at 18-under through 36 holes and in fourth place entering Wednesday’s final round. LSU said after the first round that juniors Jay Mendell and Noah McWilliams each shot 3-under 69, while freshman Dan Hayes added a 2-under 70. LSU said after the second round that Mendell and Hayes each posted 4-under 68s, and McWilliams shot another 69. (lsusports.net) Arizona led the Marana Regional after 36 holes at 35-under, according to LSU’s second-round recap, with Oklahoma State second and Arkansas State third. LSU’s 18-under total kept it inside the projected qualifying group with one round left. ### What does the 30-under finish tell you about the week? (lsusports.net) LSU’s 30-under total means the Tigers played the 54-hole regional 30 shots below par at the par-72, 7,317-yard Gallery Golf Club. LSU’s social post said the Tigers finished third and advanced, and the same post showed LSU three shots off the winning total. The card’s underlying briefing and LSU’s post align on the margin and placement. (lsusports.net) A three-shot gap to the winner also shows how little separated LSU from the top of the field over three rounds. LSU had started the regional behind only Oklahoma State in the seeding at Marana, according to the school’s May 6 announcement. That release listed Arizona, Alabama and Duke among the other top seeds in the 14-team regional. (lsusports.net) ### Which LSU players were driving the scoring? Jay Mendell was LSU’s steadiest scorer over the first two rounds, sitting at 7-under through 36 holes after rounds of 69 and 68, the school said. Dan Hayes and Noah McWilliams were each 6-under through two rounds, with McWilliams recording 12 birdies and an eagle through Tuesday. Matty Dodd-Berry counted for LSU in both early rounds, opening with a 71 before a 74 on Tuesday. (lsusports.net) Jake Amos, LSU’s head coach, had already taken the program to regionals in each of his first two seasons in Baton Rouge, LSU said before play began. LSU also noted then that its last trip to the NCAA finals in Carlsbad came in 2024. ### Why does third place still send LSU on? The NCAA’s format sends the low five teams and low individual not on an advancing team from each of the six regional sites to the championship finals. (lsusports.net) LSU’s third-place finish was comfortably inside that cutoff. The NCAA says 30 teams and six individuals will compete in the finals. (lsusports.net) ### What happens next in Carlsbad? The NCAA Championship finals are scheduled for May 29 through June 3 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. LSU’s schedule page also lists the championship opening on May 29, with stroke play set first and match play, if necessary, on June 2 and June 3. (ncaa.com)