SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ohio State beat Texas Tech in a playoff early Monday, making the cut from 30 teams to 15 at college golf’s NCAA championship tournament.
The two teams played off for the 15th spot after finishing 54 holes tied at 26 over par. The Buckeyes won by one stroke in the five-player aggregate playoff, with each member of the five-player lineup playing one hole between Nos. 1 through 5 at Grayhawk Golf Club.
Ohio State finished even with three pars, a birdie from Neal Shipley at the par-4 No. 2 and a bogey from Maxwell Moldovan on the par-4 No. 4. Tech finished 1-over with four pars and a bogey from Ludvig Aberg on No. 4, a 520-yard par-4.
The six-day tournament began Friday. Monday’s fourth round was ongoing at the AJ’s print-edition deadline.
After the 15 teams and nine lowest-scoring players not on those teams complete 72 holes, the individual champion is determined and the field is reduced to eight teams for bracket play to determine the team champion. The first two rounds of bracket play are scheduled for Tuesday and the championship match on Wednesday.
Aberg, one of the nine players who advanced individually to Monday’s fourth round, had a 4-over round through 12 holes and was tied for 34th place at 5-over. Aberg took a double-bogey 6 on hole No. 10.
The two-time Ben Hogan Trophy winner as college golf’s player of the year was expected to turn pro after concluding the NCAA tournament. The PGA Tour for the first time this year plans to award a tour card to the player who finishes No. 1 on the PGA Tour University points list at the end of the year, and Aberg has been at the top of that ranking throughout the year.
The exemption provides full status on the PGA Tour beginning immediately and extending through the end of the 2024 season.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech drops playoff to Ohio State at NCAA tournament