The University of San Diego entered the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa with momentum and local support, only to see a late collapse deny the team a place in the eight-team match-play bracket. Over the first three rounds the Toreros were firmly in the hunt, made the 54-hole cut and stood within striking distance of the top eight heading into Monday’s final round. However, a taxing fourth round produced a score that dropped San Diego to 15th place, ending their chance to play for the national title in match play.

In the early part of the week the team got a strong individual performance from redshirt senior Ian Maspat, a San Diego native, who opened with a 6-under-par 66 and spent much of the championship among the top individual competitors. The squad also relied on contributions from freshmen and underclassmen who helped the Toreros advance past the 54-hole cut — a tournament rule that reduces the field to 15 teams after three rounds — for only the third time in program history.

How the week unfolded at La Costa

Play began Friday, May 29, when Maspat’s early hot start vaulted the Toreros into contention. He birdied his first four holes in the opening round and finished tied for the 18-hole lead after carding a 66, while San Diego posted a 2-under team score and took a top-five position in the 30-team field. Saturday and Sunday brought tighter scoring conditions, but USD navigated those challenges well enough to make the cut at the end of the third round, moving on to the 72-hole conclusion.

Advancing through the regional and early rounds

Prior to arriving at La Costa, the Toreros had clinched their national berth in dramatic fashion at the Corvallis Regional, where clutch birdies in a multi-hole playoff secured their spot. That momentum carried into the opening rounds in Carlsbad: freshmen Cooper Humphreys, Reid Piron and Reed Arnaldo posted steady scores while sophomore You Seong Choi also delivered useful rounds. The team’s depth and recent postseason experience — this was USD’s sixth NCAA Championship appearance and second straight season at the national event — helped them survive the pressure of the third-round cut.

Monday’s final round and the swing in standings

After 54 holes San Diego was tied for 12th at 2-over par, only five shots shy of the match-play threshold. The final 18 holes on Monday, June 1, proved decisive. Several rival teams surged: Florida produced a 12-under round to leap up the leaderboard, while Tennessee and Stanford posted strong closing scores that moved them into the top eight. In contrast, San Diego recorded a team total of 22-over in the fourth round and slipped to 24-over for the tournament, settling into 15th place overall and missing match play.

Individual performances and key numbers

Reid Piron led the Toreros on Monday with a 1-over-par 73, but other scores pushed the team out of contention. Maspat, who had been among the individual leaders after three rounds, struggled in the final round and posted an 82, finishing tied for 50th at 4-over for the tournament. Humphreys completed the week tied for 65th at 7-over, Piron tied for 68th at 8-over, Arnaldo tied for 75th at 12-over and Choi tied for 80th at 16-over. Auburn finished stroke play at 27-under and Texas at 23-under, while Florida, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, UCLA, Tennessee, North Carolina and Stanford advanced to match play.

What it means for the program moving forward

The result was a disappointment on home soil, but the week also contained reasons for optimism. Making the final 15 after the 54-hole cut marked the Toreros’ first time advancing beyond that point since 2010, and the team once again proved it can contend in regional and national settings. Coach Evan Emerick’s influence received praise from Maspat, who credited the coach’s guidance for his strong play earlier in the tournament. The younger contributors — particularly the freshmen who produced crucial birdies in Corvallis and steady rounds at La Costa — signal a foundation that USD can build on in future seasons as it seeks its first-ever match-play berth.

While the final leaderboard denied a late run at the national title, the tournament showcased individual highlights and program progress. The Toreros will return to campus with a mix of lessons and confidence: they matched a rare program milestone by advancing past the 54-hole cut, and a core led by Maspat and promising underclassmen gives them reason to aim higher at next season’s postseason opportunities.