SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – For the second time in the last three years, the Florida State Men’s Golf Team is headed back to match play at the NCAA Championships in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Seminoles produced an enormous final round in stroke play to clinch the No. 6 seed in Tuesday’s match-play quarterfinals, which pits matchups between the final eight teams. FSU went 7-under in Monday’s fourth round, finishing 6-over at NCAAs (284-287-282-273).
𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 ✅
For the second time in the last three years, the #Noles have reached the 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 #OneTribe | #GoNoles pic.twitter.com/chdblcafvz
— FSU Golf (@FSUGolf) May 30, 2023
The Seminoles will go head-to-head against Illinois in Tuesday’s quarterfinals. Live coverage by GOLF Channel of the quarterfinals begins on Tuesday at Noon ET/9 a.m. MST.
Junior Brett Roberts was virtually flawless in Monday’s fourth round, executing with a 3-under 67 and finishing stroke play at 1-under overall (69-73-70-67) to tie for seventh place. As the last Seminole to finish his round, he hit big shots down the stretch, including a long birdie putt on the eighth and an accurate approach shot to finish up his round on the ninth.
And there you have it!@_Brett_Roberts with a great approach on the final ninth hole!#OneTribe | #GoNoles pic.twitter.com/DM112PFuWI
— FSU Golf (@FSUGolf) May 29, 2023
The prominent play by both freshmen Jack Bigham and Luke Clanton proved to be crucial on Monday. Both golfers shot 2-under 68s, as Clanton (72-71-71-68) got better as the tournament went on and tied for 22nd overall at 2-over.
Bigham had a very productive round as well and ended the stroke-play portion at 5-over (70-76-71-68). Clanton used five birdies to his advantage on Monday, while Bigham added three.
Redshirt junior Cole Anderson finished with an even-par 70 and 4-over for the tournament (73-71-70-70). He used two big birdies on his final nine holes to help ignite the Seminoles, which tied for the low round of the day with fellow ACC school North Carolina.
Florida State reaches the match-play portion of the NCAA Championships for the third time overall, doing it in 2010 as well as 2021.
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