STOCKTON, Calif. — BYU senior Carson Lundell fired a 4-under-par final round to win the NCAA Stockton Regional and lead the Cougars to a third-place finish and a trip to the 2022 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship next week.
As a team, BYU posted a 27-under three-day total (284-276-277—837) to qualify for the program’s 29th appearance at the NCAAs held May 27-June 1 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. All five Cougars posted sub-par rounds on the final day at the Stockton Regional to punch their ticket to Scottsdale.
Lundell (69-69-68—205), who is currently ranked No. 55 in the country, carded a 4-under 68 in the final round, including five birdies and an eagle to secure the third win of his BYU career. Lundell is the first Cougars to take home medalist honors at an NCAA Regional since 2019, when Rhett Rasmussen fired back-to-back 63’s to win the Pullman Regional, a tournament where Lundell finished 17th.
“Carson was rock solid all week,” said BYU director of golf Todd Miller. “What a great win for him going into the national championship. Week-in and week-out he continues to prove to everyone that he is one of the best players in collegiate golf.”
With the win, Lundell has finished top-12 in his last five events and goes into the national championship having won two of his last three tournaments.
"It was such a great week for us," said Lundell "We worked very hard the past two months to be prepared for postseason, and that hard work payed off this week. We came in with confidence and every guy on our team stepped up this week when we needed them. [David] Timmins had another phenomenal tournament and it was pretty special for me to win the individual title this week. We’re stoked to keep our season going and we’re looking to make some noise at the national championship."
BYU junior David Timmins (69-68-70—207) finished two-shots back of Lundell in solo fourth place after a 2-under 70 on the final day. The junior made three birdies and an eagle in his final round to post three-straight sub-par rounds and grab his second top-4 finish in three events.
No. 4 Arizona State (279-276-271—826) won the Stockton Regional team title after a 17-under-par final round to finish at 38-under to win by 10-shots. No. 16 Stanford (278-279-279—836) finished second after back-to-back 9-under rounds to close out regionals at 28-under-par.
The Cougars, ranked No. 46, finished in third after posting a 27-under team total (284-276-277—837), shooting 12 and 11-under, respectively, on the final two days. The 27-under-par finished is the Cougars second lowest 54-scoring performance of the year behind their 32-under win at the PING Cougar Classic.
Tyson Shelley (77-70-69—216) came up big for BYU in the final round with a 3-under-par 69. The freshman made four birdies on his opening nine to shoot 32 going out and held steady throughout the back nine to help BYU earn a trip to the national championship.
After disappointing rounds on the first two days for Cole Ponich (74-74-70—218), the junior responded with a 2-under final round to finish 2-over for the tournament. His 70 on the last day was key for the Cougars to advance beyond the regional.
Max Brenchley (72-70-72—214) posted an even-par final round to finish at 2-under-par for the tournament. The sophomore carded three birdies in the final round to finish in a tie for 28th.
“Every guy on the team was in the game all day long and in this format, it’s not very often that you get to cruise home the last nine holes to advance,” said Miller. “To be able to compete at the NCAA Championship in a place where the grass and air feel like home is a huge advantage for us.”
The Cougars now turn their sights to the Scottsdale, Arizona where they will take on the top-30 teams in college golf as they seek the second national championship in program history. The Cougars last played in the NCAA Championship during the 2018-19 season.