Ole Miss’ Sasso NCAA Golf Champion: Going to the US Open and Masters!

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Michael La Sasso, a golfer from the University of Ole Miss, showcased his composure at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, securing the individual title and leading the Rebels to the team phase. La Sasso, with a notable performance, overcame two double bogeys with two crucial birdies in the second half of the round, finishing with a par of 72. Her total score of 11 under par, 277, earned her a two-stroke victory over Phichaksn Miachon of Texas A&M, becoming the second Ole Miss golfer to win an NCAA title.

This triumph is not only a personal achievement for La Sasso, but also secures her a place in the U.S. Open at Oakmont and in next April’s Masters.

In addition to individual success, La Sasso propelled Ole Miss to secure the eighth and final spot for the match play phase. The Rebels edged out Florida State by a single stroke, a bittersweet end to Luke Clanton’s collegiate career.

Clanton, with two second-place finishes on the PGA Tour and a secured tour card, had a difficult finish with two bogeys, missing a birdie opportunity on his last hole and closing with 76 strokes. The Seminoles finished in ninth place. La Sasso, who began the final day with a two-stroke lead, started her round on the 10th hole. Despite problems and double bogeys on holes 15 and 17, she managed to hold firm for the rest of the game.

I had a little bump in the middle of the race, and being able to recover from that is something really special.

Michael La Sasso

Clanton, the world’s number 1 fan, will make his professional debut next week at the RBC Canadian Open. Arizona State secured the top seed and will face Ole Miss on Tuesday in the match play quarterfinals. The semifinals will be on Tuesday afternoon, followed by the championship match on Wednesday.

The other five teams that advanced are Florida, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. Six of the eight teams come from the Southeastern Conference.