2025 National Champions, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Carlsbad, CA-- In a championship match that delivered drama and grit from start to finish, Oklahoma State defeated Virginia 4–1 to capture the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship at Omni La Costa. The Cowboys, who had already battled through a nail-biting semifinal against Ole Miss, relied on depth and composure to secure their 12th national title and first since 2018.The first point of the day came from Oklahoma State’s Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson, who continued his perfect run through match play. Paired against Virginia’s Maxi Pruegger, Fahlberg-Johnsson birdied the opening hole and never relinquished his lead. He stretched the margin to 3-up through 11 before Pruegger mounted a brief rally by taking the 12th and 13th with pars. But the Cowboy freshman responded with a composed finish, closing out the match 3&1. It was the third win of the week for Fahlberg-Johnsson, who also took down PJ Maybank III in the quarterfinals and Cameron Tankersley in the semifinals.
Virginia struck back with its star Ben James, who delivered a dominant performance against Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout. James never trailed in the match and set the tone early with an eagle two on the par-4 fourth hole, answering a birdie from Stout in the same group. Though the final score was still playing out when the match was decided, James was firmly in control throughout.
Momentum began to shift Oklahoma State’s way in the middle matches. Gaven Lane, who had struggled in earlier rounds of match play, came up big when it mattered most. After trailing Paul Chang for much of the front nine, Lane flipped the match with wins on holes 12, 13, and 14. He went on to close out Chang 4&3, giving the Cowboys their second point of the day.
The clinching point came shortly afterward from Eric Lee, whose match against Josh Duangmanee was a rollercoaster. Duangmanee took an early lead, but Lee responded with a birdie on the par-3 eighth to take control, and never relinquished. After trading wins through the back nine, the match was tied with three to play. Lee delivered a clutch up-and-down from the penalty area on 18 to win 2-up and secure the national championship for Oklahoma State.
The anchor match between Oklahoma State’s Ethan Fang and Virginia’s Bryan Lee was still in progress when the outcome was decided. Fang held a 1-up lead through 15 holes, but with the team result clinched, the match was left unfinished.
Oklahoma State’s triumph adds another chapter to its storied history in college golf, giving the Cowboys their 12th national championship. For Virginia, the defeat ends a remarkable postseason run that included upsets of No. 2 seed Auburn in the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Florida in the semifinals. Though they came up short in the final, the Cavaliers’ performance throughout the week confirmed their arrival as a national contender and marked their deepest NCAA run in program history.
✅ Here’s What You Need to Know
- Championship Results: Oklahoma State knocked out Virginia 4-1 in the championship match, getting wins from Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson, Gaven Lane, and Eric Lee for their 12th national championship in program history.
- Semifinal Recap: Virginia overwhelmed Florida 4–1 behind strong showings from Ben James, Josh Duangmanee, and Maxi Pruegger. Oklahoma State edged out Ole Miss with wins from Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson in extras, Preston Stout against the individual champion, and Eric Lee in the anchor match, which went to extra holes.
- Quarterfinal Recap: Virginia upset 2-seed and defending champ Auburn, Ole Miss stunned top-seeded Arizona State, Florida outlasted Texas in a 3–2 duel, and Oklahoma State toppled in-state rival Oklahoma.
- Standout Performers: Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson (Oklahoma State) finished a perfect 3–0 in match play, delivering the opening point in the final. Eric Lee (Oklahoma State) secured the clinching victory in both the semifinals and championship with clutch performances under pressure. Ben James (Virginia) capped a dominant week with another commanding win in the title match.
Event Overview
- Dates: May 23–28, 2025
- Location: Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Champions Course — Carlsbad, CA
- Format:
- 72-hole stroke play to determine the individual national champion
- Top 8 teams advance to match play to decide the team national champion
- Defending Team Champion: Auburn
- Defending Individual Champion: Hiroshi Tai
📺 How To Watch
| Date | Format | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|
| Mon., May 26 | Stroke play | 6–10 p.m. | Golf Channel, Fubo |
| Tue., May 27 | Match play quarterfinals | 1–3:30 p.m. | Golf Channel, Fubo |
| Tue., May 27 | Match play semifinals | 6–10 p.m. | Golf Channel, Fubo |
| Wed., May 28 | Match play finals | 6–10 p.m. | Golf Channel, Fubo |
📊 Regional Recap (Completed May 14)
Men's Regional Results and Recap
🔴 Live Championship Scoring: Click here
🔹 Round 1 — May 23
Phichaksn Maichon (Texas A&M) led after Round 1 with a bogey-free 66 (-6).
🔹 Round 2 — May 24
Michael La Sasso (Ole Miss) and Connor Williams (Arizona State) finished Day 2 tied at 9-under to lead the individual competition. Arizona State surged to the top of the team leaderboard after firing an 11-under team round, jumping ahead of Oklahoma and Auburn.
🔹 Round 3 — May 25
Auburn reclaimed the top spot after Round 3, while La Sasso and Maichon were poised for a dramatic final round showdown. Wake Forest and Georgia Tech played off for the final Round 4 tee time.
🔹 Round 4 — May 26
Arizona State stormed to the top with a final-round 8-under, claiming stroke play honors at 14-under. Michael La Sasso held steady to win the individual title at 11-under.
🏆 Final Individual Leaderboard (Top 10)
| Pos | Player | Team | Total | Rd1 | Rd2 | Rd3 | Rd4 |
|---|
| 1 | Michael La Sasso | Ole Miss | -11 | 68 | 67 | 70 | 72 |
| 2 | Phichaksn Maichon | Texas A&M | -9 | 66 | 73 | 68 | 72 |
| 3 | Preston Stout | Oklahoma State | -7 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| T4 | Jackson Koivun | Auburn | -6 | 71 | 70 | 71 | 70 |
| T4 | Josele Ballester | Arizona State | -6 | 70 | 70 | 74 | 68 |
| 6 | Pablo Ereno | UCLA | -5 | 72 | 71 | 70 | 70 |
| T7 | Connor Williams | Arizona State | -4 | 68 | 67 | 75 | 74 |
| T7 | Paul Chang | Virginia | -4 | 73 | 71 | 70 | 70 |
| T9 | Suppanon Amornchaichan | Purdue | -3 | 71 | 70 | 74 | 70 |
| T9 | Matthew Kress | Florida | -3 | 73 | 71 | 71 | 70 |
📊 Final Team Leaderboard (Top 15)
| Pos | Team | Total | Rd1 | Rd2 | Rd3 | Rd4 |
|---|
| 1 | Arizona State | -14 | -2 | -11 | +7 | -8 |
| 2 | Auburn | -12 | -2 | -6 | -2 | -2 |
| 3 | Florida | -9 | -3 | -2 | +4 | -8 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | -1 | +5 | -3 | +3 | -6 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | E | -8 | -2 | +7 | +3 |
| 6 | Texas | +5 | -3 | +3 | +5 | E |
| 7 | Virginia | +9 | +11 | -1 | +3 | -4 |
| 8 | Ole Miss | +11 | +5 | -1 | +8 | -1 |
| 🚨 Match Play Cutline: Only the top 8 teams advance to match play 🚨 |
| 9 | Florida State | +12 | -3 | +2 | +10 | +3 |
| 10 | Texas Tech | +14 | +4 | +10 | -2 | +2 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | +16 | +9 | +3 | E | +4 |
| 12 | Pepperdine | +17 | +1 | +12 | +1 | +3 |
| 13 | Vanderbilt | +18 | +6 | +6 | +3 | +3 |
| 14 | BYU | +18 | +1 | +12 | +1 | +4 |
| 15 | Wake Forest | +31 | +8 | +4 | +5 | +14 |
🎯 Match Play Bracket & Results (May 27–28)
Championship Match:
#4 Oklahoma State def. #7 Virginia
Semifinals:
#7 Virginia def. #3 Florida
#4 Oklahoma State def. #8 Ole Miss
Quarterfinals:
#8 Ole Miss def. #1 Arizona State
#7 Virginia def. #2 Auburn
#3 Florida def. #6 Texas
#4 Oklahoma State def. #5 Oklahoma
🥇 Individual National Champion
Michael La Sasso (Ole Miss) — 277 (-11)
📝 Championship Preview
This year’s championship field includes a compelling mix of powerhouse programs and regional Cinderellas. Among the frontrunners:
- Auburn: The defending champs rolled through the Auburn Regional at 32-under and enter the championship as the clear favorites.
- Florida State: Powered by Luke Clanton, they dominated the Tallahassee Regional by 9 strokes.
- BYU & Virginia: Surging teams with hot hands after strong regional showings.
- Under-the-radar stories: Programs like Troy, San Diego, and Augusta bring underdog intrigue to the national spotlight.
👀 Players to Watch
- Luke Clanton (Florida State) – Regional medalist, Clippd No. 5, Ben Hogan Award Winner
- Jackson Koivun (Auburn) – Regional medalist, top talent showing elite form
- Braxton Watts (Utah) – Medalist in Bremerton; solo qualifier
- Hunter Thomson (Michigan) – Clutch performer who edged out a playoff spot in Urbana
ABOUT THE
NCAA Division I Championship
The NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship is the pinnacle of collegiate golf in the United States, held annually in late May or early June. The event brings together the nation's top 30 teams and six individual qualifiers, all of whom have advanced through a grueling regional qualifying process. Conference champions earn automatic regional berths, while a selection committee fills the remaining spots.
The championship begins with 72 holes of stroke play to determine the individual national champion. Following this, the top 8 teams advance to a match play bracket to compete for the team title — a format introduced in 2009 that added a dramatic head-to-head element to the final days of competition.
Some of the most decorated names in professional golf have competed in this event, including Jack Nicklaus, Hale Irwin, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson. Winning the individual title now includes an added bonus: the champion receives an invitation to the following year’s Masters Tournament, provided they maintain amateur status.
The tournament dates back to 1897, originally run by the National Intercollegiate Golf Association. The NCAA began officially sponsoring the event in 1939. Over time, the championship has become not just a collegiate milestone, but also a launching pad for future PGA Tour stars.
After 72 holes of stroke play, the individual champion is crowned, and the low 8 teams advance to match play to determine the team champion.
View Complete Tournament Information