Hiroshi Tai cemented his place in Georgia Tech history by claiming the individual NCAA championship. But for the clutch-performing Canadian, one round remained to impact his teammates as well. Through composure under fire, Tai punched Georgia Tech's ticket to the next round of team match play. More success now loomed if they could maintain their tournament run spurred on by the sophomore's stellar solo showing.
Georgia Tech’s Hiroshi Tai Wins Individual NCAA Title
(Carlsbad, CA) - Georgia Tech sophomore Hiroshi Tai came from behind on the final day to win the individual NCAA Men's Golf Championship on Monday at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.
The victory by Tai, a native of Canada with Japanese heritage, helps cement his status as one of the top collegiate golfers in the country. Shooting a 1-under 71 on the day, Tai finished at 3-under 285 overall to edge out five other players by a single stroke.
It was a rollercoaster round for Tai, who led by as many as four shots early but found himself in trouble late. On the par-3 17th hole, Tai carded a triple bogey after a poor bunker lie. However, he was able to steady his nerves and salvage par on the final hole to claim the title.
The championship is the first for Tai and for Georgia Tech since Troy Matteson won it in 2002. Tai joins Matteson, Charlie Yates (1934) and Watts Gunn (1927) as individual champions from Georgia Tech.
In addition to the individual honors, Tai's victory helped propel Georgia Tech to a top-8 finish in the team competition. The Yellow Jackets narrowly earned the final seed for the match play portion of the tournament. They will face top-seeded Illinois in the first round.
For his breakthrough performance, Tai earned an exemption to play in next year's Masters Tournament at Augusta National. It crowns a remarkable sophomore season where he established himself as one of the best collegiate golfers in the country.
Tai and the Georgia Tech golf program will now aim to continue their tournament run and capture the team NCAA championship. Quarterfinal and semifinal matches take place on Tuesday, with the final scheduled for Wednesday.
While the individual award is gratifying, Tai will be most proud if his effort helps propel Georgia Tech on a championship charge. Even if their campaign ends soon, he gave his team a gift—a chance. For a player who excelled under pressure, more opportunities for his squad are the best result of all.
References:
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/hiroshi-tai-wins-ncaa-golf-022629752.html
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