Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
May 26, 2007
LINEUP
| Pos. | Name | Yr. | Hometown | Avg. |
| 1 | Glenn Northcutt | So. | Dothan, Ala. | 72.47 |
| 2 | Patton Kizzire | Jr. | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | 72.76 |
| 3 | Steven Groover | Jr. | Birmingham, Ala. | 76.00 |
| 4 | Jay Moseley | Jr. | Bainbridge, Ga. | 74.32 |
| 5 | Andrew Medley | Sr. | Athens, Ala. | 74.85 |
AUBURN IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Championship by tying for second in the East Regional at The Golf Club of Georgia. The second place finish was the Tigers' best in an NCAA Regional since winning the 1997 East Regional at The Homestead (Va.). Auburn has now qualified for the NCAA Championship 15 times overall and 11 times since 1993. The Tigers' best finish is a tie for seventh in 1994 at Stonebridge Country Club in McKinney, Texas.
Four of the five golfers in Auburn's lineup have played in the NCAA Championship with Steven Groover being the exception. Here is how they have fared:
TIGERS AT THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE
Auburn's last appearance at the Golden Horseshoe came at the 2001 NCAA East Regional. The Tigers shot an 860, their third lowest score in an NCAA Regional, but failed to qualify for the NCAA Championship, finishing 13th.
TIGERS IN THE POLLS
Auburn is ranked 26th in the latest Golfweek and Golfstat rankings. Glenn Northcutt is ranked 55th by Golfweek and Patton Kizzire is 87th.
YEAR-BY-YEAR IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Here is a breakdown of Auburn's 14 NCAA Championship appearances:
| Year | Regional | Finish | NCAA Finish |
| 1985 | - | - | 18th |
| 1986 | - | - | 22nd |
| 1989 | East | 5th | t-29th |
| 1990 | East | 1st | 25th |
| 1993 | East | 6th | t-17th |
| 1994 | East | t-9th | t-7th |
| 1995 | East | 10th | 16th |
| 1997 | East | 1st | t-16th |
| 1998 | East | 3rd | 10th |
| 2000 | East | 8th | 14th |
| 2002 | East | 7th | t-28th |
| 2003 | East | 10th | 8th |
| 2004 | East | 6th | t-21st |
| 2006 | East | 8th | t-19th |
AUBURN VS. THE FIELD
The Tigers are 30-31-3 vs. NCAA Championship teams this year. Here is a breakdown of the Tigers' record against those teams:
| Alabama | 0-6 |
| Arizona | 2-0-1 |
| Charlotte | 1-0 |
| Coastal Carolina | 1-1 |
| Duke | 1-1 |
| East Tennessee St. | 1-4 |
| Florida | 2-1-1 |
| Florida State | 2-1 |
| Georgia | 1-3 |
| Georgia Tech | 0-1-1 |
| Michigan State | 2-1 |
| Minnesota | 3-0 |
| New Mexico | 2-1 |
| North Carolina | 3-2 |
| South Carolina | 4-1 |
| Texas | 1-2 |
| Texas Tech | 1-2 |
| Tulsa | 1-1 |
| Vanderbilt | 2-1 |
| Wake Forest | 0-2 |
| Total | 30-31-3 |
QUOTING HEAD COACH Mike Griffin
(On playing well in the last two rounds of tournaments)
"It's been kind of a tendency all year long. I don't know what it is, but early in the spring, we would tend to shoot ourselves in the foot in the first round, then we outplayed everybody in the field practically in the last two days. It's been kind of fun to have a chance to watch a team finally post some numbers that didn't put us so far back that we couldn't compete. As our record has shown, we have come forward to play well in the last two days. In fact, in most cases we have outplayed the competition down the stretch. That's kind of fun. Once these guys begin to play well out of the gate, I think they understand that they can play with almost anyone in the field. It's what we have been stressing to them for some time now. It's fun to finally get off to a good start."
(On why Auburn played well at The Golf Club of Georgia)
"I think probably knowing that the golf course kind of suited us. Only a couple of our players had ever played the course before, but we had enough information as we went over there to determine that it was a short, tight, crooked, funny little golf course that you had to know where your golf ball was going. In general, those are the kinds of golf courses that this team plays well. If par means something, our group plays pretty well. If we have to get to 35 under par, we might have a little bit of trouble. We have a couple of kids who can post birdied with almost anyone, but as far as a five-man team that posts a lot of birdies; we don't tend to go there too much. We can put a lot of pars up and stay away from the big numbers and occasionally we'll get a birdie or two. I think that had a lot to do with it, the fact that the golf course suited our game. We're hoping, obviously, that the Gold Course at Golden Horseshoe will do the same."
(On the NCAA Championship)
"We were up there for Regionals back in the early 2000s and we played the Green Course. As I recall, we might have been double-digits under par and actually missed the cut. This time around we're playing the Gold Course, which is the Robert Trent Jones variety up there, and it is supposed to be the daddy course; it's the real course. I'm hoping that par might mean something up there more than the Green Course last time. It's a beautiful place, obviously one of the most historical sites in America. Last time up I think we took the team to Old Jamestown. We're hoping for good pairings this time so we can have time to see some historical sites as well."
(On Auburn's performance at Regionals)
"This past week Patton Kizzire finished fifth in the field. This is after winning the SEC Championship, so obviously he's beginning to help his chances for postseason honors at this point in time. Glenn Northcutt, who has been in our number one spot all year long, finished one stroke behind him in sixth place for the championship; another good, strong finish for him. These two young men basically put this team on their backs last week and carried them around the golf course. Jay Moseley has been a stalwart for us most of the year and had a really good round, then didn't play well the final day. Jamie Bowen, who has been a strong part of our regiment most of the spring, kind of struggled most of the week. He put two pretty good rounds up. The last two days he got off to a terrible start each time. He had a triple the first day and double the last day, but held it together for a 75 the last day, which was better. We put Steven Groover in the lineup last week for the first time. He played as an individual in a tournament early in the spring. He's been playing so well lately, I had a hunch. We put him in the lineup and he finished in the upper one-third of the field, which is what we are setting our goals for. He counted all three rounds, and did a fabulous job for us. I couldn't be more proud of Steven for picking this team up when we needed somebody to step up, so obviously he did a great job, and I couldn't be prouder of him. He was in very good shape being in the top 15 after the first two rounds, then got a little shaky the last day."
(On teams to beat in the NCAA Championship)
"Right off the bat, we took it right in the face from the Georgia 'Dogs. They got after it in the East Regional. We were right there with them for most of the final round, then right at the end of the day they kind of stretched out a little 12-stroke lead over us and Florida and Georgia Tech. They once again showed their superiority and indicated why they have been ranked number one in the country for most of the year. Stanford is probably the best team on the West Coast with maybe the potential of UCLA and Southern Cal coming in there. Oklahoma State, without question, is the class of the central part of America with Lamar right behind them. I think here in the East, Alabama has had a great year. Florida is going to be a team to contend with as well as Georgia Tech. One of the contenders that I thought could make some things happen was Clemson, and they didn't make it out of regionals, so that's a little bit of a surprise. UNLV is another team that has been ranked in the top 10 most of the year, and they failed to get out. If we look up and we've probably beaten Georgia, Stanford, Alabama, Lamar and Oklahoma State, those teams, we're probably going to be right there in the hunt, I would say."
2006 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Team 295-293-292--880 (t-19th of 30)
Andrew Medley 73-74-71--218 (t-39th)
Glenn Northcutt 74-72-73--219 (t-50th)
Patton Kizzire 76-75-71--222 (t-82nd)
Jay Moseley 77-72-77--226 (t-117th)
Stuart Moore 72-77-78--227 (t-123rd)
ALL-TIME SCORING AVERAGE
Glenn Northcutt and Patton Kizzire are currently ranked in the top-10 on Auburn's all -time career scoring average list. Northcutt is sixth with a 72.90 stroke average, and Kizzire is ninth at 73.13. Lee Williams, who lettered from 2001-05, is first at 72.38.
TIGERS AMONG NATION'S BEST
The Tigers are currently among the nations best in several categories. Auburn is ranked third nationally in fairways hit at .723.
Glenn Northcutt is fifth in fairways hit at .820, and Andrew Medley is third in total short game at .687.
SECOND ROUND IMPROVEMENT
The Tigers have shown dramatic improvement in their second round scores. Auburn has a team stroke average of 288.25 in the second round, more than nine strokes lower than its first round average of 297.42. The Tigers' third round stroke average is 286.80
PAIR OF TIGERS EARN ALL-SEC HONORS
Junior Patton Kizzire and sophomore Glenn Northcutt were named to the All-SEC squad with Kizzire earning first-team honors and Northcutt earning second team honors. Kizzire was named second-team All-SEC as a freshman in 2005.
SEC CHAMPION
Patton Kizzire became the fourth Auburn golfer to win the SEC individual title with a 72-79-70--211 at the SEC Championship last month. He joined Jimmy Green (1991), Bryant MacKellar (1997) and Roland Thatcher (2000) as Auburn's SEC Champions. The win was also the first in Kizzire's three-year career. Following his performance, Kizzire was named SEC and Golfweek Golfer of the Week.
NORTHCUTT, KIZZIRE SHINE AT NCAA EAST REGIONAL
The Auburn men's golf team qualified for the NCAA Championship by tying for second with an 867 total in the three-day NCAA East Regional at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga. The second place finish was the Tigers' best in an NCAA Regional since winning the 1997 East Regional at The Homestead (Va.). Patton Kizzire fired a 3-under 69 to finish fifth at 4-under 212, and sophomore All-SEC Glenn Northcutt finished sixth at 3-under 213 with a final round 69.
GROOVER ENTERS LINEUP
Steven Groover earned a spot in the Tigers' lineup for the first this season at the NCAA East Regional and did not disappoint. The junior from Birmingham, Ala., tied for 32nd with a 72-73-77--222. Groover tied for 60th in the Boilermaker Invitational in April, but played as an individual.
FIRST ROAD WIN SINCE 2003
With Auburn's win in the Seminole Intercollegiate March 6, the Tigers claimed thier first road victory since the 2003 Palencia Invitational.
The Tigers did it in exhilarating fashion. They began the final round one shot off the lead and trailed No. 12 North Carolina, No. 24 Florida State and UAB entering the 15th hole before rallying for a five-shot win over the Tar Heels.
BROKEN RECORD
Earlier this season in the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, the Tigers set a school record for the lowest 18-hole score, firing a 13-under 271 in the second and third rounds. The previous record was a 273, set in last year's Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate.
MOSELEY NAMED TO SEC COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM
Junior Jay Moseley was been named to the SEC Men's Golf Community Service Team. A Business Administration major, Moseley is one of 12 players chosen representing each SEC institution.
The Bainbridge, Ga., native is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team, organized and participated in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Clothing Drive and leads a Bible study for College Golf Fellowship. He volunteered for the Halloween Service Project, Beat Bama Food Drive, Toys for Tots, was a Salvation Army bell ringer and visited hurricane victims from local shelters. Moseley has served with the East Alabama Food Bank and is the Auburn male representative for the NCAA Regional Leadership Conference.
The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 20 league sports, highlighting a student athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts.
Glenn Northcutt NAMED SEC GOLFER OF THE WEEK
Auburn sophomore Glenn Northcutt was named SEC Golfer of the Week after leading the Tigers to a win in the Seminole Intercollegiate March 8. He tied for third in the Seminole Intercollegiate with a 73-74-66--213 and carded eight birdies in his final round including five after the turn for a 31. Northcutt is the first Auburn golfer to win the award since Lee Williams in April 2005.
SEASON SUMMARY
Auburn opened the season Sept. 15 in the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Rocky Face, Ga. The Tigers finished 15th out of 18 at 14-over 297-285-296--878. Patton Kizzire and Glenn Northcutt finished tied for 32nd at 1-over 217.
A week later, the Tigers traveled to Birmingham where they finished fifth in the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate at 22-over 300-291-295--886. Kizzire tied for 10th at 3-over 219.
Auburn returned to Birmingham Oct. 9, finishing seventh in the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. The Tigers fired a 271 in the second and third round, setting a school record for the lowest 18-hole score. Northcutt fired a 6-under 207 to tie for 12th.
Next, Auburn finished sixth in the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges with a 302-297-285--884. Northcutt finished eighth at 2-over 218 to lead the Tigers.
The Tigers traveled to Ft. Worth, Texas, for the Callaway Match Play Championship Oct. 29. Auburn dropped matches to fourth-ranked UCLA and No. 8 Coastal Carolina.
Auburn opened up its spring season at the John Burns Intercollegiate in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Feb 21-23. The Tigers tied for sixth with a 284-289-287--860. Andrew Medley played as an individual and tied for eighth with three straight 70s for a 210 total.
The Tigers broke through and claimed their first road win in four years with a victory at the Seminole Intercollegiate March 5-6. Northcutt tied for third at 73-74-66--213. with Kizzire, who shot a 72-70-70--213. Northcutt was named SEC Golfer of the Week two days later.
Auburn claimed its third top-five finish of the season at the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational March 17-18. Jamie Bowen led Auburn, tying for seventh individually with a 70-74-72--216.
The 21st-ranked Tigers returned to the course March 26-27 at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate in Austin, Texas. Auburn finished 12th, and Jamie Bowen led the team individually, finishing in a tie for sixth.
Auburn played in its second tournament in a week when it traveled to Evans, Ga., for the Administaff Augusta State Invitational. The Tigers finished 14th, and Gordon Strother led the team with a 39th place finish.
The 24th-ranked Tigers closed out the regular season with a fourth place finish in the Boilermaker Invitational. Northcutt led Auburn, tying for 15th.
Auburn finished third in the SEC Championship at Sea Island, Ga., April 20-22. Kizzire became Auburn's fourth SEC Champion and claimed his first individual title with a three-stroke victory.
The Tigers qualified for the NCAA Championship by tying for second with an 867 total in the three-day NCAA East Regional at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga. The second place finish was the Tigers' best in an NCAA Regional since winning the 1997 East Regional at The Homestead (Va.). Patton Kizzire fired a 3-under 69 to finish fifth at 4-under 212, and sophomore All-SEC Glenn Northcutt finished sixth at 3-under 213 with a final round 69.
GROUND BROKEN ON AUBURN UNIVERSITY GOLF TEACHING FACILITY
In the fall of 2006, construction began on a $1.95 million golf teaching facility that will become the home of Auburn men's and women's golf.
The 8,300 square feet facility is located two miles from campus off Donahue Drive and will include office space for Auburn men's and women's golf head coaches and assistant coaches as well as a trophy/awards display for men's and women's golf, a team meeting room, men's and women's locker rooms and indoor hitting bays that open onto the driving range.
The facility is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2007.
