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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Adam Woodard

Who has the most NCAA men’s golf team championships?

National champions have been crowned in men’s collegiate golf dating back to 1897.

The Intercollegiate Golf Association, which was later re-named as the National Intercollegiate Golf Association, sponsored the season-end tournament from 1897-1938.

In that time frame, Yale dominated, earning 20 NIGA titles from 1897-1936, including nine consecutive from 1905-1913. The Bulldogs’ lone NCAA Championship came in 1943. Ivy League-rival Princeton has 11 NIGA titles of their own, dominating the 1920s. They as well have just one NCAA title (1940). Harvard also won six in seven years from 1898-1904, and Michigan won consecutive titles in 1934-35.

For the last 81 years, starting in 1939, the NCAA has assumed responsibility. Thirty schools have won NCAA titles, including 15 multi-time winners. That begs the question: Who has the most?

Houston

Number of titles: 16

Years won: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1985

Notable past players: Fuzzy Zoeller, Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, Bruce Lietzke, John Mahaffey, Bill Rogers, Blaine McCallister, Billy Ray Brown and Jim Nantz (yes, that Jim Nantz).

The first dynasty in the NCAA era, Houston won each of its 16 titles in a 29-year period, but has yet to win in the last 35 years.

Oklahoma State

Number of titles: 11

Years won: 1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2018

Notable past players: Rickie Fowler, Bob Tway, Hunter Mahan, Scott Verplank, Charles Howell III, Kevin Tway, Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland

You can’t talk about men’s college golf for long without mentioning the Cowboys from Stillwater. The Oklahoma State men have qualified for the NCAA Championship 72 times in the last 73 years (didn’t qualify in 2012), and have national titles in each of the last six decades.

Stanford

Number of titles: Eight (1 NIGA title, 1938)

Years won: 1939, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1953, 1994, 2007, 2019

Notable past players: Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Notah Begay, Bob Rosburg, Lawson Little

Winning in collegiate golf is hard, especially at an institution with difficult academic requirements like Stanford. Despite those challenges, the Cardinal have been competitive for decades and have been a pipeline for professional players. When you think of Stanford men’s golf, the first thought is Tiger Woods, and for good reason. But don’t forget about other major winners and Cardinal alums Tom Watson, Bob Rosburg and Lawson Little.

LSU’s Stewart Jolly, Ben Taylor, Eric Ricard, Brandon Pierce and Zach Wright pose with the National Championship Trophy at the 2015 Men’s NCAA Championship.

LSU

Number of titles: Five

Years won: 1940, 1942, 1947, 1955, 2015

Notable past players: David Toms, Jay Hebert, Gardner Dickinson, Fred Haas

While LSU’s success on a national level has been scarce since the 1950s, their 2015 title was a reminder of just how solid the program truly is. The Tigers have won 16 conference titles in the talent-heavy SEC and consistently qualify for the NCAA Championship, appearing in eight of the last 10.

Florida

Number of titles: Four

Years won: 1968, 1973, 1993, 2001

Notable past players: Chris DiMarco, Billy Horschel, Tommy Aaron, Mark Calcavecchia, Andy North, Doug Sanders

Fifteen team conference champions. Sixteen individual conference champions. Two individual national champions and four team titles. The Gators are winners.

North Texas

Number of titles: Four

Years won: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952

Notable past players: Carlos Ortiz, Rodolfo Cazaubon, Mike McCaffrey

The Mean Green dominated college golf in the late 1940s and early 50s, winning four consecutive national titles. While they haven’t won the big one in 67 years, North Texas has competed in the NCAA Championship 35 times, with 16 top-10 finishes.

Texas

Number of titles: Three

Years won: 1971, 1972, 2012

Notable past players: Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Justin Leonard, Jordan Spieth, David Gossett, Jhonattan Vegas, Bob Estes and Brandel Chamblee

One word describes the men’s program at Texas: tradition. Back-to-back national titles in 1971 and 1972, a third in 2012 and four runner-up finishes don’t tell the whole story. The Longhorns boast 47 conference titles and a who’s who list of amateur and professional stars.

Wake Forest

Number of titles: Three

Years won: 1974, 1975, 1986

Notable past players: Arnold Palmer, Lanny Wadkins, Jay Haas, Billy Andrade, Bill Haas, Curtis Strange, Webb Simpson

When your program boasts one of the greatest to ever swing a club, you’re doing something right. Along with consecutive team titles in 1974-75, individual champions Curtis Strange (’74) and Jay Haas (’75) helped put the Demon Deacons on the map and despite not winning since 1986, they’re always in the hunt. Jay’s brother, Jerry, has been the head coach since 1997.