STILLWATER, Okla. — Returning freshman
Lucas Carper wrapped up his first career postseason appearance with a final-round 76 on Tuesday afternoon, finishing in a tie for 43rd with an 11-over 227 at the 2021 NCAA Stillwater Regional at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.
The Big West Conference individual champion was among a group of four individual competitors in that spot on the final leader board, joined by UCLA's Devon Bling, Virginia Tech's Mark Lawrence, Jr., and Oral Roberts' Jackson Howes. SMU's Noah Goodwin, ranked No. 10 in the nation, ran away with regional medalist honors, finishing with a 15-under 201 for a six-shot victory.
Playing the final round a day earlier than scheduled after the weather forecast shortened the three-day tournament to a two-day event with 36 holes on Monday, Carper and the field endured a two-and-a-half hour weather delay before the mechanical engineering major from San Jose, Calif., took his first swing off the first tee a little after 1 p.m. PT.
Carper parred the par-five opening hole and finished the front nine at 2-over following a birdie on the ninth hole, heading to the turn with a little momentum. A birdie on the 14th hole had the second-year freshman even on the back, but a bogey on 15 and a double on 17 slowed him down a bit before ending the regional on a high note, carding a birdie on the par-five 18th.
His finish edged his teammate
Thomas Hutchison's tie for 44th at the 2019 NCAA Pullman Regional and was the best for an Aggie since Ryan Han finished in a tie for 12th at the 2018 NCAA Stockton Regional.
Highlighted by his conference individual title, Carper became the fifth UC Davis individual to earn an NCAA Regional berth to go along with five team appearances, joining Austin Graham in 2010 (t40th),
Tyler Raber in 2013 (t23rd), Han, and Hutchison. Carper finished the year with a season scoring average of 74.43 to rank fourth on the team and posted nine rounds at par or better on the season.
2021 NCAA STILLWATER REGIONAL
Karsten Creek Golf Club (Stillwater, Okla.)
May 17-18, 2021 • Par 72 • 7,502 Yards
TEAM SCORES (FINAL - 54 holes)
1. Oklahoma State, 288-271-277—836 (-28)
2. Illinois, 286-275-289—850 (-14)
3. SMU, 293-277-294—864 (E)
4. Sam Houston State, 295-285-295—875 (+11)
5. Little Rock, 290-295-294—879 (+15)
t6. Auburn, 287-294-299—880 (+16)
t6. Baylor, 290-286-304—880 (+16)
8. Notre Dame, 301-294-289—884 (+20)
9. Northwestern, 286-293-309—888 (+24)
10. Ole Miss, 297-298-296—891 (+27)
11. College of Charleston, 304-292-305—901 (+37)
12. Middle Tennessee State, 304-294-305—903 (+39)
13. Alabama, 310-294-301—905 (+41)
INDIVIDUAL SCORES (FINAL - 54 holes)
(Leaders plus UC Davis scores)
1. Noah Goodwin, SMU, 66-67-68—201 (-15)
t43.
Lucas Carper*, UC Davis, 77-74-76—227 (+11)
* Competed as an individual… Top five teams and top individual not on an advancing team moves on to NCAA Championships.
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