Men’s Golf: Cavaliers pull off pair of upsets to compete for first national title

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s golf team had to beat the past two national champions in back-to-back matches Tuesday to reach Wednesday’s NCAA Championship, the first time in program history.

The Cavaliers will take on Oklahoma State for the national title at 5:25 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday in Carlsbad, Calif. The match will be televised live by The Golf Channel. The Cowboys defeated Ole Miss in the other semifinal Tuesday evening.

Virginia defeated 2024 champion Auburn, 3-2, in Tuesday morning’s match play, advancing to the afternoon’s semifinal against 2023 champion Florida, and beat the Gators, 4-1. Ironically, Florida knocked UVA out of the tournament two years ago and Auburn did the same last year.

Virginia, coached by Bowen Sargent, is the only program in the nation to have qualified for the championship’s match play for the last three years.

The Cavaliers clinched the win over Florida when Ben James blasted his bunker shot to within tap-in range on the 18th hole of his match against PGA Tour player Ian Poulter’s son, Luke Poulter. (See attached video below).

This story will be updated throughout the evening.

Clutch gene 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗.

Tap-in birdie/sandy from Ben James has UVA in the NCAA Title match for the first time! #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/XGxXlEO0oM

— Virginia Men’s Golf (@UVAMensGolf) May 28, 2025