KISSIMMEE, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - For the second straight year, the UCF men's golf team is headed to the NCAA National Championships. The Knights finished second at this weekend's regional championships in Kissimmee after shooting a three-day total of 834, 30-under par on Wednesday. The 54-hole total marked the second best in program history.
This is the ninth time in program history UCF has made it to the NCAA Championship. The event will be set at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla., from Friday, May 25 through Wednesday, May 30, where 30 teams and six individuals will compete to be crowned National Champions.
UCF bested seven of the eight ranked teams in the tournament including No. 5 and top-seeded Vanderbilt, No. 17 North Carolina, rival and American Athletic Conference foe No. 20 USF, No. 29 Kent State, No. 32 Arizona, No. 41 Purdue and No. 44 Colorado State.
Four of the five Knights who competed finished in the top 12 individually, as junior Kyler Tate paced the Knights with a third place finish. Tate shot a three-day total of 206 (-10) after putting up a 70 during the final round.
Throughout the tournament, three Knights possessed first place individually, and all but one finished under par in the 54-hole total. In UCF's 15 rounds, 12 rounds were completed shooting par or better.
Manuel Elvira sank seven birdies to finish the day with a 68 (-4), tying his season-low 18. The senior shot a season-low 209 (-7) after the three rounds, keeping each one under par. Elvira tied for ninth overall with fellow senior Juuso Kahlos. After getting off to a slow start in the final round completing the front nine one-over par, Kahlos persevered and collected a trio of birdies on the back nine to end the day two-under.
Bobby Bai rounded out the NCAA Regional Championship tied for 12th after shooting two-under and recording five birdies on the third and final day. Bai, who ended day one in first with Kahlos, finished with a 210 (-6) three-day total.
Tommy Cao had a steady day-three showing, wrapping up the third round at even par. He finished with a 226 (+10) overall.
Watson Course at Reunion Resort - Par 72 - 7154 Yards
| Player | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | 54-Hole Total |
| Kyler Tate | 71 | 65 | 70 | 206 (-10) |
| Juuso Kahlos | 67 | 72 | 70 | 209 (-7) |
| Bobby Bai | 67 | 73 | 70 | 210 (-6) |
| Manuel Elvira | 72 | 70 | 68 | 209 (-7) |
| Tommy Cao | 77 | 77 | 72 | 226 (+10) |
| Totals | 276 (-11) | 280 (-8) | 278 (-10) | 834 (-30) |
As a team, the Knights were second in total birdies with 63 during the three rounds and collected 168 total pars. UCF was 27-under on all par fives and one-under on par fours, both in the top three in the field of 14.
Heading to the National Championship and joining UCF from the Kissimmee Regional will be No. 8 Florida, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, and Kent State.