KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. -- Puwit Anupansuebsai continued his magical late-season run by claiming medalist honors as the 26th-ranked San Diego State men's golf team advanced to the NCAA Championship Wednesday at the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional.
Anupansuebsai fired a 4-under-par 67 in Wednesday's final round on the par-71, 7,107-yard Golf Club of Tennessee to finish at 8-under 205, one shot ahead of Arkansas' Tyson Reeder (-7). Anupansuebsai became the first Aztec to win a NCAA regional in program history and the first player to win a regional at the Golf Club of Tennessee since the current top-ranked golfer in the world Dustin Johnson captured the 2005 NCAA East Regional.
Over his last four tournaments, Anupansuebsai has finished in a tie for second (Wyoming Cowboy Classic from April 5-6), a tie for first (Western Intercollegiate from April 12-14, lost in playoff), a tie for first (MW Championship from April 30-May 1, won in playoff) and now has a solo victory this week at the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional.
The Aztecs finished third in the 13-team field at 5-under 847 following a 6-over 290 on Wednesday. The 847 is the fourth-lowest regional score for SDSU in program history.
Also advancing to the NCAA Championships, slated for May 28-June 2, at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., from the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional with San Diego State are No. 13 Vanderbilt (-18), No. 24 Arkansas (-7), No. 3 Clemson (-3) and No. 10 North Carolina State (-3). The Aztecs will be playing in their 30th NCAA Championship, ninth since the NCAA went to regional format, first since 2016 and seventh under head coach Ryan Donovan took over the reigns at his alma mater in 2004.
Anupansuebsai equaled his 4-under 67 from Tuesday with an incredible stretch of golf today. The three-time all-MW selection opened with consecutive birdies on the par-3, 184-yard fourth and par-5, 565-yard fifth before bogeying the par-4, 421-yard sixth. Anupansuebsai then took control of the tournament by going 5-under over his next holes with an eagle on the par-5, 526-yard seventh, back-to-back birdies on the par-4, 465-yard ninth and the par-3, 163-yard 10th, and another birdie on the par-4, 336-yard 12th. After getting to 10-under with the birdie on No. 10 and leading the tournament by two strokes, Anupansuebsai took a double bogey on the par-3, 187-yard 14th. He then reeled off four pars to finish at 8-under for the tournament.
Playing one hole ahead of Anunpansuebsai, Reeder tied him with a birdie on the par-5, 580-yard 17th but a bogey on the par-4, 456-yard 18th put Reeder a shot back at 7-under for the tournament. Clemson's Turk Pettit also got to 7-under, but double bogeyed the par-3, 216-yard eighth while closing out his round (Clemson started the final round on the 10th). SDSU teammate Youssef Guezzale also briefly held the lead after Anupanusebsai's double bogey on No. 14 but took a triple bogey on the par-4, 455-yard 13th to fall out of the top 3 as Anupansuebsai's 8-under ended up being enough for the win.
Guezzale finished in a tie for fourth out of the 75 entrants at 5-under 208 following an even-par 71 today. He reached 9-under after birdies on the par-4, 450-yard third and No. 4 on the front nine and the par-5, 551-yard 11th and No. 12 on the back nine. However, Guezzale's triple bogey on No. 14 and a bogey on No. 18 had him sign for a final-round 71.
Callum Bruce tied for 37th at 4-over 217 after shooting a 4-over 75 today. Bruce sank four birdies on Wednesday, including the par-4, 442-yard second, No. 7, No. 10 and No. 12, but also had six bogeys and a double bogey on the fifth hole.
Zihao Jin was the next San Diego State finisher, tying for 41st at 6-over 219. Jin, who was at even-par after two rounds, had an 8-over 79 today. He was unable to convert a birdie, while logging two bogeys and three double bogeys.
Steve Sugimoto also competed and tied for 53rd at 9-over 222 with a final-round 6-over 77. Sugimoto had one birdie (No. 12) which was offset by seven bogeys.
The NCAA Championships are set to begin on Friday, May 28. The 30 qualifying teams will complete 18 holes (54 total) of stroke play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The top-15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team will play another 18 holes of stroke play on Monday to determine the top-8 teams that will advance to match play and well as the 72-hole individual champion. The team national champion will be decided by a match-play format that will consist of quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday.
NCAA Kingston Springs Regional
Kingston Springs, Tenn.
Day Three Results
Golf Club of Tennessee
Par 71, 7,107 yards
Team Standings (Top 5 of 13 teams) (top 5 advance to NCAA Championships from May 28-June 2)
1. No. 13 Vanderbilt…279-280-275—834 (-18)
2. No. 24 Arkansas…283-280-282—845 (-7)
3. No. 26 San Diego State…281-276-290—847 (-5)
T4. No. 3 Clemson…287-279-283—849 (-3)
T4. No. 10 North Carolina State…277-288-284—849 (-3)
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 75 players + SDSU)
1. Puwit Anupansuebsai (San Diego State)…71-67-67—205 (-8)
2. Tyson Reeder (Arkansas)…69-72-65—206 (-7)
3. William Moll (Vanderbilt)…69-71-67—207 (-6)
T4. Youssef Guezzale (San Diego State)…69-68-71—208 (-5)
T4. Turk Pettit (Clemson)…70-69-69—208 (-5)
T4. Reid Davenport (Vanderbilt)…65-72-71—208 (-5)
---
T37. Callum Bruce (San Diego State)…70-72-75—217 (+4)
T41. Zihao Jin (San Diego State)…71-69-79—219 (+6)
T53. Steve Sugimoto (San Diego State)…72-73-77—222 (+9)
Anupansuebsai is Medalist as MG Advances to NCAA Champs
