UCLA
NCAA Regionals
Men's Golf Advances to NCAA Championships in Carlsbad
May 12, 2025 | Men's Golf
AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 3-seed UCLA men's golf team finished in third place out of 13 teams at the NCAA Auburn Regional on Wednesday afternoon, securing the program's first trip to the NCAA Championships since 2018.
The Bruins shot 4-over 292 on Wednesday at Auburn University Club to finish in third place in the field of 13 teams. The top five teams have advanced to the upcoming NCAA Championships, to take place from May 23-28 in Carlsbad, Calif.
Overall, UCLA finished 6-over 870 through the three-day tournament. Auburn finished in first place, followed by second-place Texas A&M, third-place UCLA, fourth-place Purdue and fifth-place Georgia Tech.
The regional format includes six 54-hole regional tournaments, conducted to determined the 30 qualifying teams and six individuals (not on those qualifying teams) who will compete in the finals. Last season, the Bruins finished in seventh place at the NCAA Stanford Regional, just missing the cut to advance to the NCAA Championship round.
UCLA has won two NCAA Championships in the past (1988, 2008).
"I'm at a little bit of a loss of words, but I'm just so happy, mainly just happy for the guys," UCLA third-year head coach Armen Kirakossian said. "They have worked really hard this year. These guys deserve to play in this championship. For both Pablo and Omar as seniors, they couldn't go out without playing in at least one national championship. It's going to be really special to play down the road in Carlsbad, and it almost feels like it's in our backyard. Hopefully we can have a lot of Bruins come out and have a strong hometown crowd. As for the regionals, it's exhausting in so many different ways – mentally, physically, emotionally. You feel everything out there. Your players feel it. That may be the most intense golf tournament, certainly in college golf. It's just the nature of it, as every shot matters from minute one until the end. Inevitably, those things always come down to the last hole and the last shot. As comfortable as you may feel, things can definitely get intense so I'm proud of the way our guys fought and battled. It definitely wasn't our cleanest golf. But it was a very challenging golf course and a very foreign place for us. None of us had ever been there or seen it, and we persevered and made it through. We couldn't be happier."
The other four teams at the NCAA Auburn Regional to advance to the NCAA Championship round included host Auburn, Texas A&M, Purdue and Georgia Tech. Last season, Auburn claimed its first-ever NCAA men's golf title with a 3-2 win over Florida State (match play) in their first appearance in the finals.
Senior Omar Morales (69-70-69) finished as UCLA's top individual performer at Auburn University Club this week, shooting 8-under 208 over three days. He tied for second place on the individual leaderboard, marking his sixth top-10 finish of the 2024-25 season.
Morales registered six birdies and two bogeys in the third round. He posted a string of three consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13 and 14, before also sinking a birdie on hole 16.
Junior Kyle An carded 1-under 71 in Wednesday's final round, recording four birdies, one eagle, three bogeys and a double bogey in 18 holes. An had a string through the first nine holes with birdies on holes 13, 14 and 15 before sinking an eagle on the par-5 16th hole.
The Bruins' three other golfers on Wednesday included senior Pablo Ereño (2-over 74), freshman Baylor Larrabee (6-over 78) and Luke Powell (8-over 80).
Ranked No. 13 in the nation, UCLA will return to action at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., on Friday, May 23. The 54 holes of stroke play will continue on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 before the first cut.
After three consecutive days of stroke play, the top 15 teams will move into one additional day of stroke play (Monday, May 26). The top eight teams that afternoon will advance into the quarterfinal round of match play (which occurs the morning of Tuesday, May 27). Teams advancing into the quarterfinals could also advance to Tuesday afternoon's semifinals (also match play). The two advancing teams from Tuesday's semifinal round will compete in the national championship match (also match play) on Wednesday, May 28.
Most recently, UCLA advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2018. Prior to that, the Bruins advanced to the championship field each season from 2000 through 2015 (16 consecutive appearances).
Day Two Recap
The Bruins sat in fourth place through the first 36 holes of the NCAA Auburn Regional.
May 13, 2025
AUBURN, Ala. – UCLA shot 7-over 295 on Tuesday at Auburn University Club in the second round of the NCAA Auburn Regional.
The regional tournament concludes on Wednesday with the third round. UCLA is among 13 teams competing at the NCAA Auburn Regional and must finish within the top five to move onto the NCAA Championship field later this month.
UCLA closed the second round in fourth place out of 13 teams (2-over 578).
Auburn currently leads the field at 19-under 557. Texas A&M (1-under 575) stands in second place, followed by third-place New Mexico State (E, 576). The Bruins have a two-stroke lead over fifth place Georgia Tech (4-over 580).
Senior Omar Morales led the Bruins for the second consecutive day at Auburn University Club. Morales shot 2-under 70 in the second round, one day after he carded 3-under 69. Through 18 holes on Tuesday, Morales finished with four birdies and two bogeys. He birdied three of four holes early on the back nine (holes 10, 11 and 13). Heading into Wednesday's final round, he stands in fifth place on the tournament's individual leaderboard.
Freshman Baylor Larrabee carded 2-over 74 on Tuesday to put his two-day score at 1-over 145. Larrabee currently is tied for 18th place on the individual leaderboard, along with four other golfers.
UCLA's three other competitors on Tuesday included junior Kyle An (3-over 75), sophomore Luke Powell (4-over 76) and senior Pablo Ereño (7-over 79).
Day One Recap
Senior Omar Morales shot 3-under 69 in the first round at Auburn on Monday.
May 12, 2025
AUBURN, Ala. – The third-seeded Bruins shot 5-under 283 through the first round of the NCAA Auburn Regional on Monday at Auburn University Club.
Competing in their second consecutive NCAA Regional, the Bruins in second place at the conclusion of the opening round. UCLA is among 13 teams competing this week at the NCAA Auburn Regional.
Auburn concluded the first round as the tournament leader, carding 13-under 275 as the tournament host. Following second-place UCLA, the top four teams included third-place Georgia Tech (4-under 284) and fourth-place SMU (2-under 286). Purdue, Texas A&M and New Mexico State were in a tie for fifth place (E, 288).
Monday's opening round included mid-afternoon weather delays at Auburn University Club. Four of UCLA's five golfers had completed all 18 holes before the initial weather delay. Senior Omar Morales concluded the 18th hole following the weather delays.
Morales closed Monday's opening round as the Bruins' top performing, carding 3-under 69. He finished the day with four birdies and one bogey. Morales will enter Tuesday's second round in fifth place on the individual leaderboard.
Senior Pablo Ereño shot 2-under 70 through the first round, recording three birdies and one bogey. Ereño was tied for sixth place on the individual leaderboard.
Freshman Baylor Larrabee finished 1-under 71 (t-10th), sophomore Luke Powell shot 1-over 73 (t-31st) and junior Kyle An carded 3-over 75 (t-55th) on the first day of the regional round.
