In a remarkable display of talent and skill, six teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) have successfully advanced to the 2026 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships. This achievement was confirmed at the end of the regional stroke play that took place on Wednesday.
Regional Highlights
The ACC’s roster of teams moving forward to the NCAA Championship is the second-most represented among all conferences. Leading the pack is Virginia, the regional champion. Virginia’s victory comes hot on the heels of their ACC Championships win in April, marking their second consecutive team title.
Virginia shared the team lead with Pepperdine, with both teams finishing the Winston-Salem Regional at Bermuda Run Country Club at an impressive 36-under-par (816). Virginia’s senior star player, Ben James, clinched the individual title with a three-day total of 19-under-par (194). This score set a new record as the lowest ever registered by an NCAA Division I golfer.
Joining Virginia at the Bermuda Run were NC State, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech, who placed seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.
Weathering the Challenges
North Carolina secured its spot at the at the Bryan, Texas Regional, despite adverse weather conditions that forced 36 holes to be played on a single day. The Tar Heels finished fourth overall, with freshman Carson Bertagnole tying for fifth place at 10-under (206). This will be the eighth time in nine postseasons that North Carolina has advanced from a regional to the NCAA Championship.
Stanford, the runner-up at the ACC Championship, secured second place at the Columbus Regional. Simultaneously, ACC member Florida State secured its place at the NCAA Championship by placing fifth. Stanford’s journey to the NCAA Championship marks their 17th trip under head coach Conrad Ray.
Other Notable Performances
In the Marana Regional in Arizona, Duke tied for fourth with Arkansas State to secure its spot for the NCAA Championships. Additionally, Louisville turned in its best regional performance in program history, finishing second at the Athens Regional. This marks only the sixth time the Cardinals have advanced to the NCAA Championships and their first appearance since 2021.
The 2026 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship will be held from May 29 to June 3 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. The competition will see 30 teams play 54 holes before being cut down to 15 teams for the final round of stroke play. The top eight teams will then move forward to match play.
Last season, Virginia advanced to the match play quarterfinals after securing the No. 7 seed at Carlsbad. Despite upsetting second-seeded Auburn and third-seeded Florida, the Cavaliers fell to Oklahoma State in the final. It was the third straight season an ACC team advanced to the championship match.