Shockwaves in Scottsdale! Ole Miss Men’s Golf Stuns the Field, Reaches NCAA Match Play Semifinals—Michael La Sasso Claims Individual National Title!
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA — In what can only be described as a storybook finish, the Ole Miss Rebels Men’s Golf team has shocked the college golf world by surging into the NCAA Match Play Semifinals, while sophomore sensation Michael La Sasso soared to new heights by claiming the 2025 NCAA Individual National Championship. From the lush fairways of Grayhawk Golf Club to the roaring Rebel fans back in Oxford, this was a performance that will be remembered for generations.
Heading into the NCAA Championships, Ole Miss wasn’t a trendy pick. They weren’t favored, they weren’t hyped—and that’s exactly how they liked it. Fueled by quiet confidence and a brotherhood of belief, the Rebels blazed through stroke play and punched their ticket to the match play semifinals, upsetting higher-seeded powerhouses along the way.
But the headline of the week? Michael La Sasso’s historic run.
The sophomore from Raleigh, North Carolina, played with the calm of a veteran and the fire of a champion. Round after round, La Sasso showed ice in his veins, rolling in clutch putts and sticking approach shots that left galleries gasping. His final-round 66 under pressure was nothing short of spectacular—propelling him past a field stacked with All-Americans and future PGA Tour stars.
As he tapped in for par on the 18th green, the reality set in: Michael La Sasso was the 2025 NCAA Individual National Champion.
“I just tried to stay in the moment,” La Sasso said, moments after receiving the trophy. “I owe everything to my coaches, my teammates, and my family. This win isn’t just mine—it’s Ole Miss’.”
Indeed, this week has been about more than just one golfer. The Rebels’ team chemistry has been their secret weapon. Behind La Sasso, players like Jack Gannon, Ethan Sanders, and Kai Thompson all stepped up in big moments, delivering key birdies and staying composed when the stakes reached boiling point.
Head coach Chris Malloy, emotional in post-round interviews, praised the team’s grit: “People didn’t expect much from us, but these guys believed in each other. This group has the heart of champions.”
The Rebels now head into the semifinals of NCAA Match Play with all the momentum—and belief—that they can finish the job. They’ll face a juggernaut opponent, but after what they’ve accomplished in Scottsdale so far, nobody is counting them out.
For a program that’s been building brick by brick, this week marks a defining moment. A national title in individual play. A shot at the team crown. And a campus in Oxford buzzing with pride.
Shockwaves? Absolutely.
Because in the Arizona desert, Ole Miss Men’s Golf has officially arrived—and Michael La Sasso just made history doing it.
