Championship Sure: No. 1 Auburn defeats Oklahoma State in NCAA Semifinals – Auburn Tigers

CARLSBAD, Calif. – For the second time in three years, the top-seeded Auburn Men’s Golf group will play within the Championship Match, defeating each No. 15 Stanford, 3-1-1, within the quarterfinals and No. 5 Oklahoma State, 5-0, within the semifinals on Tuesday. The Tigers will face No. 23 UCLA on Wednesday at 2:25 p.m. PT/4:25 p.m. CT for the 2026 NCAA Title. 
 
“I just think our guys are playing with confidence, grit and so much heart,” stated head coach Nick Clinard. “What Jake Albert did as a freshman and what Logan Reilly did as a freshman, these guys are just tough. I believe in them, our whole staff believes in them and their teammates believe in them. 
  
“I’m going to tell my team that I’m proud of you, proud of you for winning stroke play as we came here to do that, and proud of you for making it to the final match. I want them to enjoy it. You never know when you’re going to be back. I remember in 2024, I told myself that in the mirror. I said I don’t know if I’ll ever be back in this situation, but I’ve worked like crazy to get there. Enjoy the walk and go compete. Play hard for the brand and play hard for each other.”
 
“Today was great,” stated Jackson Koivun. “To see our young guys step up and perform was awesome. I wish I was a little more help these past two matches, but I’m excited to go out there and play UCLA tomorrow.
 
“This is another chance at a national championship. It feels amazing. All year, it’s felt like we can do that again. We won in 2024, and that was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life. To have a chance to grab that tomorrow, it feels great.”

(1) No. 1 Auburn def. (5) No. 5 Oklahoma State, 5-0
 
Logan Reilly def. Eric Lee, 7&5

In the opening match, Logan Reilly wasted little time leaping out to a giant lead over Eric Lee. The freshman piled up 4 birdies, together with three in a row from holes 6-8, to shut out the primary level for the Tigers.
 
Jackson Koivun vs. Preston Stout, 1UP (18th Hole)
 
Tuesday’s featured match included the top-ranked beginner on the earth in Jackson Koivun and Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout. Koivun owned a 2UP lead thanks to 2 birdies in his opening 5 holes. Stout saved the match shut all through the afternoon, nevertheless. Back-to-back birds from Koivun on 12 and 13 let him preserve his lead. Koivun was main 1UP on the 18th simply as Cayden Pope closed out the ultimate level. 
 
Jake Albert vs. Gaven Lane, 1UP (18th gap)
 
Fresh off a 6&5 win within the first match of the day, Jake Albert continued his constant play within the afternoon towards the Cowboys. Before the Pope’s deciding level, Albert had carded 5 birdies and only one bogey. OSU’s Gaven Lane had flipped the match on the twelfth earlier than Albert picked up birdies on 14 and 17 to take the 1UP benefit.
 
Josiah Gilbert def. Ethan Fang, 4&3
 
Three straight birdies from Josiah Gilbert on No. 9, 10 and 11 gave him a lead he wouldn’t give up. An eagle on 13 and a birdie on 15 handed the Orange and Blue its second level on the board.
 
Cayden Pope def. Filip Fahlberg-Johnson, 3&2
 
Junior Cayden Pope performed the anchor position nicely. After a bogey on the third gap, Pope performed clear golf, dialing up 4 birdies to shut out his match 3&2 and carry Auburn to Wednesday’s championship match.
 
(1) No. 1 Auburn def. (8) No. 15 Stanford, 3-1-1
 
Nathan Wang def. Jackson Koivun, 2-UP
Logan Reilly def. Dean Greyserman, 2&1
 
Freshman Logan Reilly battled for a 1UP lead on the flip, thanks partly to 3 birdies on the entrance aspect. Despite Dean Greyserman wining two straight holes, Reilly countered with two of his personal to flip the match again in favor of the Orange and Blue. He would burry an extended putt on the eighth gap (his seventeenth of the day) to clinch his match, 2&1, and safe the victory for the No. 1 Tigers. 
 
Jake Albert def. Ethan Gao, 6&5
 
No one had a greater morning than Jake Albert. The Blacksburg, Virginia native shot out of a cannon, birdieing 5 of his first eight holes to take a commanding lead. Six up on the flip, Albert by no means appeared again, closing out his NCAA match play debut, 6&5.
 
Josiah Gilbert def. Jay Leng, 3&2
 
A tidy birdie to open the day gave Gilbert the early benefit over Jay Leng. Gilbert was one down after 4 holes earlier than turning on the jets and birdieing every of his subsequent three holes to place himself forward. Once play moved to the entrance 9, regular play from the junior noticed him climb to as a lot as 3UP earlier than he closed out the match on his sixteenth gap of the day.
 
Cayden Pope vs. Edan Cui, Tied (fifteenth Hole)
 
Selected for anchor duties, the Second Team All-SEC choice was as much as the duty. Despite opening with a birdie, Pope trailed almost your complete match. A birdie on his tenth gap of the day and a clutch par on No. 4 tied the match. The Tigers closed out the match earlier than Pope bought an opportunity to complete.