Oklahoma State's Preston Stout Wins NCAA Individual Title as Auburn Claims Team Championship Over UCLA

Auburn defeated UCLA 4-1 to win the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California. Every Auburn player ranked higher than his UCLA counterpart in the championship match. Auburn secured victories in the remaining matches, ending play before Jackson Koivun's match against UCLA was completed.

Koivun had led by one hole heading into the 18th hole. Koivun defeated Baylor Larrabee of UCLA 4-and-3 in the semifinal match. The two were all square after five holes before Koivun closed out the match on the 15th hole.

Preston Stout of Oklahoma State won the individual title, shooting a final-round 69 to finish at 14-under par and defeat Alabama's William Jennings by one shot. Stout reached 16-under par during the final round before making three bogeys over a five-hole stretch. He birdied the par-5 18th hole to secure the victory.

Jennings made three consecutive birdies on holes 2, 3, and 4 in the final round. He tied for the lead on a par-3 hole before bogeying his final hole. "It brings tears to my eyes. I love them so much, and I love Auburn and our program.

I'm just very grateful," Auburn head coach Nick Clinard said. "This is what we practice so hard for. I wish I wouldn't have made it so stressful coming down the stretch, but that's why we practice and why we go to Oklahoma State—for moments like that," Stout said.

"I had a really good week and thought I did a lot of things well. I managed myself properly throughout the 72 holes and was happy about that. I did a lot of things well and played disciplined golf for the most part.

After I made the double bogey early in the round, I knew I had to put it in gear and start firing at pins. I told coach (Jay) Seawell that I wasn't here to finish third or fourth—I came here to win a national title, and that's what I was planning to do. I got hot and gave it a run but came up just short.

Overall, there's a lot of good to take away, but it just sucks to come up short," Jennings said. Jennings is a sophomore at Alabama. Jackson Koivun is a member of the Auburn Tigers golf team and participates on the PGA Tour.