After claiming its second ASUN title in three years, Liberty is heading back to the NCAA Regionals. No. 7 seed Liberty is in Bath, Michigan where the Flames begin NCAA Regional play on Monday. Liberty is seeking to advance to the national championship for the fifth time in program history. The three-day, 54-hole event is being played at the Eagle Eye Golf Club (par 71, 7,126 yards).

Michigan State, the No. 10 seed in the regional, serves as the host for the course. The Bath Regional is one of six NCAA Regionals. The top five teams from each of the regionals will advance to the 2023 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, May 26-31.

The Flames have made four previous appearances at the national championship event – 2012, 2019, 2021, 2022. The 10th place finish for Liberty in 2012 is the best finish the program has ever had. Last year, the Flames finished 26th at the national championship.

Liberty is making the program’s 13th appearance at an NCAA Golf Regional and the 11th in the last 12 regional events, having only missed the 2015 NCAA Regionals. The Flames have advanced to the National Championship each of the last three years, one of only 11 teams who have done so.

Here’s a look at the 13 teams competing this week in the Bath Regional (national rankings):
No. 1 Illinois (No. 3)
No. 2 Florida (No. 10)
No. 3 Texas (No. 15)
No. 4 Oregon (No. 22)
No. 5 Kansas State (No. 27)
No. 6 Georgia (No. 34)
No. 7 Liberty (No. 39)
No. 8 San Diego (No. 46)
No. 9 Arkansas Little Rock (No. 50)
No. 10 Michigan State (No. 61)
No. 11 Wisconsin (No. 65)
No. 12 Illinois State (No. 108)
No. 13 Purdue Fort Wayne (No. 213)

We will be providing updates throughout the week.

MONDAY UPDATE

Liberty teed off early this morning as the first round of the NCAA Regional in Michigan got underway. The Flames would stay below par throughout much of the day on the course, and finished the day with a 1-under par 283. Liberty checks in at 9th place on the team leaderboard following the first round.

Connor Polender paced the Flames with a 3-under par 68 first round score. He sits in a tie for 12th place at the end of day one. Jonathan Yaun finished Monday’s round with a 2-under par 69,  Isaac Simmons shot a 1-over par 72, and Austin Barbin and Josh Ryan each carded a 3-over par 74 to round out Liberty’s individual scores in round one.

The round one team leader-board following Monday’s action:

1. Georgia -18
2. Michigan State, Illinois -12
4. Texas -9
5. Little Rock, Oregon -5
7. Florida -4
8. Kansas State -3
9. Liberty -1
10. Wisconsin E
11. San Diego +2
12. Illinois State +4
13. Purdue Fort Wayne +12

TUESDAY UPDATE

The Flames were unable to make a push up the leader-board on Tuesday in the second round of action in the NCAA Bath Regional, remaining in 9th place. Liberty finished the day with a 6-over par 290, bringing the team to a two-round total of 1-over par 573.

Connor Polender continued to pace the Flames, as he carded a 1-under par 70 second round score. He sits in a tie for 11th place after two rounds with a score of 4-under par 138. Jonathan Yaun is at par following the two rounds at 142, Isaac Simmons shot 3-over par and is 4-over par for the tournament. Josh Ryan finished the day at 2-over par and is 5-over par through the two rounds, and Austin Barbin is at 13-over par after a 10-over par second round.

The round two team leader-board following Tuesday’s action:

1. Georgia -28
2. Illinois -18
3. Oregon -15
4. Texas -12
5. Michigan State -11
6. Kansas State, Florida -4
8. Little Rock +1
9. Liberty +5
10. San Diego +6
11. Wisconsin +7
12. Illinois State +16
13. Purdue Fort Wayne +34

Regional play will resume with the third and final round of the Regional beginning Wednesday morning. A reminder that the top five teams will advance to the NCAA National Championships.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE

The Flames had their best round of the tournament on Wednesday, but the hole was too far to dig out to get into serious contention for a top 5 spot and being able to advance to the NCAA National Championships. Liberty finished the Regional in 8th place with a final score of 3-over par 855. The Flames finished 13 strokes out of 5th place.

Connor Polender continued his strong play. He carded a 2-under par 69 round three score on Wednesday. For the tournament, Polender finished at 6-under par 207 and tied for 5th place.

The final Bath Regional leaderboard as Liberty’s season comes to an end:

1. Georgia -29
2. Illinois -21
3. Oregon -14
4. Florida -12
5. Texas -10
6. Kansas State -7
7. Michigan State -1
8. Liberty +3
9. Little Rock +12
10. Illinois State +17
10. San Diego +17
12. Wisconsin +19
13. Purdue Fort Wayne +46