WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Senior Ben James recorded the lowest 54-hole total in NCAA Regional history and Virginia men’s golf shared the team title with Pepperdine at the 2026 NCAA Winston-Salem Regional. The Cavaliers advance to NCAA Championships for a school-record, fourth-straight year.
After a final round of 65 on Wednesday (May 20), James’ 54-hole total of 194 was the lowest ever by an NCAA DI golfer at a regional. It broke his own NCAA record of 196 set back at the 2023 Las Vegas Regional and at 19-under was one stroke off matching his NCAA relation to par mark of 20-under. According to CollegeGolfData.com, James is the 13th men’s golfer ever to win multiple NCAA Regionals – 2023 Las Vegas Regional and 2026 Winston-Salem Regional.
Virginia (-36), Pepperdine (-36), Ole Miss (-31), Southern California (-27) and Mississippi State (-26) all advanced to the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, Calif. later this month. Pepperdine overcame a six-shot deficit to earn a share of the team championship after a final round 269.
Graduate student Paul Chang continued a red-hot closing stretch to the season with his fourth top 10 finish in the last five events. He fired three-straight, 68s to finish in a tie for fifth at 9-under. Senior Bryan Lee rounded out a trio of Cavaliers in the top 20 with a T-14 finish. He was 6-under for the tournament and closed with a 1-over 72 on Wednesday.
Additional Notes
- Virginia won its first ever NCAA Regional title and has finished either first or second in each of the last three regionals.
- A Cavalier individual has won an NCAA Regional in three of the last four years – Ben James (2023 Las Vegas Regional), Paul Chang (2025 Reno Regional) and Ben James (2026 Winston-Salem Regional).
- Virginia has won six tournaments during the 2025-26 season, the most in school history.
- UVA’s 54-hole score of 816 at Bermuda Run Country Club is tied for the 7th lowest score in NCAA Regional history.
- As a team, the Cavaliers were one shot of matching the program’s 54-hole NCAA Regional scoring record of 815 established at the 2023 Las Vegas Regional. This week’s performance was also the school’s second-best score in relation to par (-36) at an NCAA Regional.
- For James, the win was his seventh of his UVA career, tying Ben Kohles (2008-2012) for the most in program history.
UP NEXT
Virginia will play in its fourth-straight NCAA Championship at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. (May 29-June 3).
LEADERBOARD
|
PL |
TEAM |
RD 1 |
RD 2 |
RD 3 |
TOTAL |
TO PAR |
|
T1. |
Virginia |
271 |
270 |
275 |
816 |
-36 |
|
T1. |
Pepperdine |
273 |
274 |
269 |
816 |
-36 |
|
3. |
Ole Miss |
278 |
269 |
274 |
821 |
-31 |
|
4. |
Southern California |
278 |
279 |
268 |
825 |
-11 |
|
5. |
Mississippi State |
278 |
272 |
276 |
826 |
-18 |
|
--- |
--------------------------- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
|
6. |
Houston |
287 |
278 |
269 |
834 |
-18 |
|
7. |
NC State |
287 |
275 |
273 |
835 |
-17 |
|
8. |
Wake Forest |
278 |
286 |
276 |
840 |
-12 |
|
9. |
Georgia Tech |
283 |
298 |
267 |
848 |
-4 |
|
10. |
Kentucky |
280 |
290 |
280 |
850 |
-2 |
|
11. |
Richmond |
293 |
280 |
286 |
859 |
+7 |
|
12. |
Little Rock |
298 |
280 |
286 |
864 |
+12 |
|
13. |
Presbyterian |
290 |
290 |
293 |
873 |
+21 |
|
14. |
Navy |
295 |
284 |
297 |
876 |
+24 |
*Top five teams advance to NCAA Championships
VIRGINIA
|
PL. |
TEAM |
RD 1 |
RD 2 |
RD 3 |
TOTAL |
TO PAR |
|
1. |
66 |
63 |
65 |
194 |
-19 |
|
|
T5. |
68 |
68 |
68 |
204 |
-9 |
|
|
T14. |
68 |
67 |
72 |
207 |
-6 |
|
|
T33 |
69 |
72 |
72 |
213 |
E |
|
|
T47. |
70 |
76 |
70 |
216 |
+3 |