Ole Miss and Mississippi State have advanced to the NCAA men’s golf championship, set to begin May 29 at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. The Rebels, who finished third last year, hope to improve on their previous showing, while the Bulldogs are making their second appearance in four years, both thanks to impressive regional performances.
Ole Miss finished third at the Winston-Salem Regional, marking its eighth time reaching the NCAA finals with a 30-under-par team score. The Rebels secured their fourth NCAA berth under head coach Chris Malloy. Cameron Tankersley led the way with a 6-under-par final round, including three birdies and an eagle on a 588-yard par-five. His performance moved him to 16-under for the tournament, earning him second place individually. His three-round score is the second-best in school history, trailing only Braden Thornberry’s 18-under in 2016.
Tom Fischer opened his final day with three birdies and shot a 3-under 68, finishing at 9-under overall and tying for fifth place individually. Collins Trolio, after a career-best round, finished with a 70 for 6-under and tied for 12th. Cohen Trolio contributed five birdies in his final round, while Finn Meister shot a 74.
Mississippi State’s Garrett Endicott posted a 5-under 66 in the final round, finishing with a 14-under total of 199. His score is the lowest in program history at the NCAA Tournament and marks his 42nd career round in the 60s, tying a school record. Dain Richie also finished strong with an eighth-place finish at 8-under, while Jackson Skinner concluded his NCAA debut with back-to-back 69s. Jackson Cook finished 62nd overall.
Both teams will continue their postseason runs in California, aiming for their first national titles in recent years, beginning Friday.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
