LSU Tigers Earn No. 3 Seed in NCAA Gold Canyon Regional: A Deep Dive Into Their Road to the Championship
By Mary John
BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU Tigers have earned the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Golf Canyon Regional, marking another milestone in a season defined by consistency, grit, and elite-level play. The announcement was met with excitement across the program, which now sets its sights on the postseason with national championship aspirations very much alive.
The Tigers, ranked among the top 15 nationally, will head to Gold Canyon Golf Resort in Arizona, one of the six regional host sites for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Golf Regionals. Scheduled for May 12-14, the Gold Canyon Regional includes a loaded field of 13 teams all vying for one of five coveted spots to advance to the NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, California.
For LSU, the No. 3 seed represents more than a number—it reflects a season of hard-earned respect, built on marquee wins, a deep lineup, and an emerging core of veteran leadership.
Head coach Chuck Winstead, now in his 19th season at the helm, praised his team’s journey to the postseason.
“We’ve battled all year in some of the toughest tournaments against elite programs. This group has shown they can go toe-to-toe with anyone,” Winstead said. “We’re proud to be a top-three seed, and we’re looking forward to competing at Gold Canyon.”
The Tigers posted top-five finishes in seven of their ten events this spring, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas and a thrilling win at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn. That victory, which came down to the final hole, showcased LSU’s ability to finish under pressure—an essential trait for regional and national championship play.
LSU’s success has been anchored by junior sensation Connor Gaunt, who currently ranks inside the top 25 in the latest Golfstat individual rankings. Gaunt, a fiery competitor with a smooth putting stroke, has posted six top-10 finishes and carries a team-best scoring average of 69.8.
Alongside Gaunt is senior Garrett Barber, a battle-tested veteran and former All-SEC selection who’s peaking at the right time. Barber brings length off the tee and the kind of emotional steadiness that’s made him a team captain for two years running.
Rounding out the Tigers’ core are sophomore Drew Doyle, freshman Ethan Withers, and redshirt junior Trey Winstead, the coach’s son, who has played his best golf late in the season.
“Everyone on this roster has contributed,” said Coach Winstead. “We’re deep, and we trust every one of our guys to deliver when it counts.”
The Gold Canyon Regional, played at the Dinosaur Mountain Course at Gold Canyon Golf Resort, offers a mix of beauty and bite. Known for its elevation changes and desert winds, the par-72 course can reward bold shot-making but punishes poor decision-making. It’s a course that demands focus, patience, and adaptability—qualities LSU has sharpened over the course of the year.
Among the teams joining LSU in Arizona are No. 1 seed Arizona State, No. 2 seed Florida, No. 4 Texas Tech, and No. 5 Ole Miss, along with dark horses like BYU and SMU. The top five teams after three rounds will move on to Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale for the national championship.
“Gold Canyon’s no joke,” said Barber. “You’ve got to control your trajectory, commit to your numbers, and keep your emotions in check. It’s going to test us, but we’re ready.”
While LSU earned a favorable seeding, the regional format leaves no margin for error. In 2023, three top-10 teams were eliminated in regionals, and the Tigers are all too aware of the volatility of college golf.
Arizona State, playing in its home state and stocked with future PGA Tour talent, is a clear favorite. Florida, meanwhile, has one of the country’s most dangerous duos in Mason Lee and Carlos Martinez. Texas Tech, the 2024 Big 12 champion, has momentum on its side, and Ole Miss is a gritty squad that thrives in pressure-filled moments.
Then there are the underdogs. BYU, though ranked outside the top 30, has won two tournaments this spring. SMU’s aggressive style could thrive on a course like Gold Canyon. Even mid-majors like Cal Poly and UTEP have players capable of catching fire.
“We respect everyone in the field,” said Gaunt. “But if we play our game, we believe we can beat anybody.”
The 2025 season has been one of steady ascent for LSU. They began the fall ranked just inside the top 30 nationally but climbed rapidly thanks to early success at the Inverness Intercollegiate and SEC Fall Preview. Consistency became their identity: they rarely had a bad round and often had at least two players in red numbers.
Much of that credit goes to Coach Winstead and assistant coach Andrew Loupe, a former LSU star turned PGA pro, who returned to Baton Rouge in 2023 to mentor the next generation.
“Coach Loupe’s experience has been huge,” said Doyle. “He’s walked these pressure-packed fairways, and his insight helps us think clearly in big moments.”
Playing in the Southeastern Conference gives LSU one of the strongest competitive schedules in the country. With regular battles against Florida, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Texas A&M, the Tigers are no strangers to elite-level fields.
“The SEC prepares you for anything,” said Winstead. “We’ve seen it all—wind, cold, pressure, high scores, birdie-fests. We’ve played on the best courses against the best teams. There’s no better training ground.”
This year, five SEC teams earned top-four seeds in regionals, underscoring the depth of the league. And while conference rivalries will temporarily be set aside in Gold Canyon, the pride of the SEC will be on display.
Beyond the stat sheets and shot shapes, what’s set LSU apart this year might be less tangible: their mindset. The Tigers have embraced sports psychology more than ever before, with weekly sessions focused on visualization, breathing techniques, and controlling the controllables.
“Golf is 90% mental,” said Gaunt. “You can have all the talent in the world, but if your head’s not right, it’s over before you tee it up. We’ve learned how to stay present and bounce back from adversity.”
The program’s mental approach is designed to help players not just perform better but also enjoy the process—an important factor in a sport known for its emotional toll.
LSU’s success has reignited enthusiasm for college golf in Baton Rouge. The program has received an outpouring of support from alumni, including former Tigers currently on the PGA Tour like Sam Burns and Curtis Thompson.
“It’s awesome to see the Tigers back in the national conversation,” said Burns, who starred at LSU from 2015–17. “I know how hard it is to get to this stage, and I’m pulling for them to make a deep run.”
The school’s athletic department has also leaned into the moment, promoting the team across social media and offering fans a chance to follow along with live scoring via the NCAA and Golfstat websites.
While the Gold Canyon Regional is the immediate focus, the ultimate goal is a national championship. LSU hasn’t reached the NCAA Finals since 2019, and their last national title came in 2015, when Ben Taylor drained a clutch putt on the 18th to seal it.
Could 2025 be a repeat?
“We believe in our ability,” said Coach Winstead. “But we also know it’s one shot at a time. First, we’ve got to take care of business in Arizona.”
The top five teams from each of the six NCAA Regionals will advance to the 2025 NCAA Championship, a grueling week-long event combining 54 holes of stroke play with match play among the final eight. It’s a format that rewards both depth and firepower—two traits LSU brings in spades.
