Upcoming Event: Men's Golf versus Tindall Invitational on September 22, 2025
Men's Golf
vs Tindall Invitational
Friday, May 23
Carlsbad, Calif.
University of Utah
vs
NCAA Championships
Braxton Watts Eyes Return to NCAA Championships
5/21/2025 1:38 PM | Men's Golf
This will be the third time that Watts will take on the NCAA Championships
Dates: May 23-28
Location: Omni La Costa Resort & Spa // Carlsbad, Calif.
Par/Yardage: 72/7,528
Live Scoring: Scoreboard
Watch: Golf Channel (May 26-28)
THIS WEEK
Braxton Watts is back in action at the 2025 Men's Golf NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, Calif., to represent the Utes as one of six individuals hitting the links. Watts earned his spot as an individual after winning the NCAA Bremerton Regional by putting up back-to-back rounds of 6-under to beat out all 71 other golfers. This will be the third time in the senior's collegiate career that he'll participate in the NCAA Championships, dating back to his freshman season (2021-22) and last season. Watts is the fifth seeded individual at the event, grouped with the other five golfers who posted the best individual score at their regional in a non-advancing team.
CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
"The Captain" made his first appearance at the NCAA Championships in 2022 after the Utes placed fifth at the Norman Regional to advance to the highest stage. Watts shot 27-over but found encouraging signs after scoring an even round of 72 during the final 18 holes. In last season's play at the NCAA Championships, Watts moved on to the Championships after the team tied for fourth at the Austin Regional. Watts put together the best showing by any Ute at the event, posting a 3-over 75 in the first round but came back with an even round and a 1-over 73 in the third round to sit tied for 27th on the individual leaderboard. Despite the team not making the cut, Watts advanced on to the fourth round and grabbed another 3-over 75 to finish his season tied for 35th. Watts becomes the fourth Ute in program history to compete as an individual at the NCAA Championships alongside Dustin Pimm (2006), Kyler Dunkle (2019), and Tristan Mandur (2021). Mandur put together the greatest showing by any individual, finishing tied for 17th after shooting a 3-over 283.
MOVING ON
To reach the NCAA Championships, Watts had to total the best score of any individual on a non-advancing team in the NCAA Regionals. While the Utes missed the cut by one stroke, Watts was one of the reasons why a furious comeback took shape. After an even score on day one at the Bremerton Regional, Watts shined with a 6-under 67 in the second round to keep the Utes just two strokes out of fifth place while climbing into the top five himself. Watts stayed sizzling hot into the final round as he opened play with back-to-back birdies to sit 2-under right out of the gate. After a trio of even marks, the Ute ran into a bogey but responded with another red mark on the ensuing hole. The senior continued his stellar play into the back nine, hitting four birdies against zero bogeys to climb the ranks into first place for the regional title. Watts was the lone Ute in the fixed starting lineup this season to not record an individual title but made his second collegiate career crown worth it.
THE FIELD
Seeding // Team (NCAA Ranking)
1. Auburn (1)
2. Oklahoma State (2)
3. Ole Miss (3)
4. Texas (4)
5. Arizona State (5)
6. Oklahoma (6)
7. Florida (7)
8. Florida State (9)
9. Virginia (10)
10. Texas A&M (11)
11. Illinois (12)
12. UCLA (14)
13. Vanderbilt (16)
14. BYU (19)
15. South Carolina (20)
16. Pepperdine (21)
17. Georgia (22)
18. Tennessee (23)
19. Texas Tech (24)
20. Georgia Tech (26)
21. South Florida (27)
22. Colorado (29)
23. UNLV (31)
24. Purdue (36)
25. San Diego (39)
26. Wake Forest (40)
27. New Mexico (42)
28. Troy (46)
29. California (49)
30. Augusta (93)
Seeding // Individual
1. Jacob Modleski, Notre Dame
2. Hunter Thomson, Michigan
3. Bryan Kim, Duke
4. Claes Borregaard, Kennesaw State
5. Braxton Watts, Utah
6. Sakke Siltal, Texas State
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
All 30 teams and six individuals will complete 54 holes of stroke play. Following 54 holes of competition, the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team will advance for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match-play competition and the 72-hole stroke-play individual champion. The top eight teams after 72 holes of play will be placed into a bracket thereafter.
LIVE SCORING
To keep with the results during the NCAA Championships, fans can visit here. Links to live scoring on each day can be found on UtahUtes.com.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Golf program along with tournament, roster, and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (X: @UtesGolf | Instagram: @UtesGolf).
Location: Omni La Costa Resort & Spa // Carlsbad, Calif.
Par/Yardage: 72/7,528
Live Scoring: Scoreboard
Watch: Golf Channel (May 26-28)
THIS WEEK
Braxton Watts is back in action at the 2025 Men's Golf NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, Calif., to represent the Utes as one of six individuals hitting the links. Watts earned his spot as an individual after winning the NCAA Bremerton Regional by putting up back-to-back rounds of 6-under to beat out all 71 other golfers. This will be the third time in the senior's collegiate career that he'll participate in the NCAA Championships, dating back to his freshman season (2021-22) and last season. Watts is the fifth seeded individual at the event, grouped with the other five golfers who posted the best individual score at their regional in a non-advancing team.
CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
"The Captain" made his first appearance at the NCAA Championships in 2022 after the Utes placed fifth at the Norman Regional to advance to the highest stage. Watts shot 27-over but found encouraging signs after scoring an even round of 72 during the final 18 holes. In last season's play at the NCAA Championships, Watts moved on to the Championships after the team tied for fourth at the Austin Regional. Watts put together the best showing by any Ute at the event, posting a 3-over 75 in the first round but came back with an even round and a 1-over 73 in the third round to sit tied for 27th on the individual leaderboard. Despite the team not making the cut, Watts advanced on to the fourth round and grabbed another 3-over 75 to finish his season tied for 35th. Watts becomes the fourth Ute in program history to compete as an individual at the NCAA Championships alongside Dustin Pimm (2006), Kyler Dunkle (2019), and Tristan Mandur (2021). Mandur put together the greatest showing by any individual, finishing tied for 17th after shooting a 3-over 283.
MOVING ON
To reach the NCAA Championships, Watts had to total the best score of any individual on a non-advancing team in the NCAA Regionals. While the Utes missed the cut by one stroke, Watts was one of the reasons why a furious comeback took shape. After an even score on day one at the Bremerton Regional, Watts shined with a 6-under 67 in the second round to keep the Utes just two strokes out of fifth place while climbing into the top five himself. Watts stayed sizzling hot into the final round as he opened play with back-to-back birdies to sit 2-under right out of the gate. After a trio of even marks, the Ute ran into a bogey but responded with another red mark on the ensuing hole. The senior continued his stellar play into the back nine, hitting four birdies against zero bogeys to climb the ranks into first place for the regional title. Watts was the lone Ute in the fixed starting lineup this season to not record an individual title but made his second collegiate career crown worth it.
THE FIELD
Seeding // Team (NCAA Ranking)
1. Auburn (1)
2. Oklahoma State (2)
3. Ole Miss (3)
4. Texas (4)
5. Arizona State (5)
6. Oklahoma (6)
7. Florida (7)
8. Florida State (9)
9. Virginia (10)
10. Texas A&M (11)
11. Illinois (12)
12. UCLA (14)
13. Vanderbilt (16)
14. BYU (19)
15. South Carolina (20)
16. Pepperdine (21)
17. Georgia (22)
18. Tennessee (23)
19. Texas Tech (24)
20. Georgia Tech (26)
21. South Florida (27)
22. Colorado (29)
23. UNLV (31)
24. Purdue (36)
25. San Diego (39)
26. Wake Forest (40)
27. New Mexico (42)
28. Troy (46)
29. California (49)
30. Augusta (93)
Seeding // Individual
1. Jacob Modleski, Notre Dame
2. Hunter Thomson, Michigan
3. Bryan Kim, Duke
4. Claes Borregaard, Kennesaw State
5. Braxton Watts, Utah
6. Sakke Siltal, Texas State
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
All 30 teams and six individuals will complete 54 holes of stroke play. Following 54 holes of competition, the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team will advance for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match-play competition and the 72-hole stroke-play individual champion. The top eight teams after 72 holes of play will be placed into a bracket thereafter.
LIVE SCORING
To keep with the results during the NCAA Championships, fans can visit here. Links to live scoring on each day can be found on UtahUtes.com.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Golf program along with tournament, roster, and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (X: @UtesGolf | Instagram: @UtesGolf).
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/ Men's Golf
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