Seniors Pace Flames During Final Day at NCAA Stanford Regional

STANFORD, Calif. – Liberty seniors Austin Barbin and Isaac Simmons helped the Flames post their best showing at the NCAA Stanford Regional during their final collegiate rounds.

Simmons carded a 2-under par 68 to close out his Liberty career, while fellow senior Barbin completed his days as a Flame with an even par 70 on the Stanford Golf Course (par 70, 6,727 yards) on Wednesday.

With the stellar play of its two graduating seniors, Liberty climbed one spot on the regional scoreboard to finish the event in 11^th place with a 13-over par 853 (286-286-281).

Barbin led the Flames overall at the NCAA Stanford Regional by finishing tied for 44^th place with a 3-over par 213 (71-72-70).

Simmons wrapped up his career by finishing in 51^st place with a 5-over par 215 (71-76-68), thanks to his fourth sub-70 round of the season.

Barbin and Simmons wrap up their playing career at Liberty having led the Flames to their last three-straight NCAA Regional appearances and the program's fourth trip to the NCAA Men's Golf National Championship in 2022.

Overall, the Flames were making their eighth-straight showing at an NCAA Regional and 14^th Regional appearance in program history.

Beside the two seniors, Ike Joy finished in 47^th place with a 4-over par 214 (72-71-71), Josh Ryan finished tied for 52^nd place with a 6-over par 216 (72-72-72) and Brett Reid finished tied for 56^th place with an 8-over par 218 (72-71-75).

No. 18 Illinois blitzed the home course of Stanford with a closing round 9-under par 271 to post a Regional winning score of 36-under par 804 (263-270-271).

No. 6 Florida State, the top ranked team in the Regional, finished eight shots behind in second place with a 28-under par 812 (267-267-278), followed by a 19-under par 821 (271-268-282) by Texas A&M.

A dramatic finish secured the final two national championship advancing spots. SMU (285-265-280) and Regional host Stanford (269-284-277) tied for fourth place with a 10-under par 830).

Stanford got a pair of birdies on No. 9 (par 4, 365 yards), the team's closing hole, to edge out Ole Miss, who had a pair of bogeys on the previous hole, the par-3 No. 8 (172 yards).

Illinois, Florida State, Texas A&M, SMU and Stanford were five of the 30 teams who advanced from NCAA Regional play to compete for the NCAA Men's Golf National Championship, held May 24-29 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

Round Recap – Liberty's Starting Five:

Austin Barbin – T44 3-over par 213 (71-72-70)
Ike Joy – T47 4-over par 214 (72-71-71)
Isaac Simmons – 51 5-over par 215 (71-76-68)
Josh Ryan – T52 6-over par 216 (72-72-72)
Brett Reid – T56 8-over par 218 (72-71-75)

Schedule

Seniors Pace Flames During Final Day at NCAA Stanford Regional

Players Mentioned

Austin Barbin

Ike Joy

Brett Reid

Josh Ryan

Isaac Simmons