Boandl, Zou Earn Bids to NCAA Regionals
4/30/2025 2:15:00 PM | Men's Golf
HOUSTON, Texas — Following their AAC All-Conference accolades, junior Lukas Boandl and freshman Daniel Zou have earned at-large bids to the NCAA Bremerton Regional.
The Regional takes place May 12-14, at Gold Mountain Golf Club and hosted by Washington.
They become the fifth and sixth and Rice golfers to earn individual bids to NCAA Regionals, and the first since Jake Benson in 2019. It is also the second time that the Owls had a pair of golfers earn bids, joining Mitchell Meissner and Mario Carmona in 2018.
Boandl is the No. 2 individual seed in the regional, while Zou is the No. 5 seed.
"We're excited for the opportunity," said Rice Men's Golf Head Coach Justin Emil. "It's been since 2019 that we've had an individual in regionals. I couldn't be more proud of Lukas and Daniel. They really led the show for us this year. Lukas came out with a win in the very first tournament, and Daniel, as a freshman, to make the impact that he made was very special. I'm really excited for them and the rest of the team. You can see where we're headed as a program."
Boandl was named to the AAC All-Conference team. He leads the team with a 71.34 stroke average, a -0.28 average to par, 20 rounds of par or better, and 134 birdies. He has 10 rounds in the 60's, becoming the second golfer in school history with at least 10 in a season. His season stroke average and average vs. par are the second fewest in school history.
The Konigsdorf, Austria native has three top five, three top 10, and seven top 20 finishes. He won his first career tournament at the Argent Financial Classic, finishing -10 to become the fourth golfer in school history to shoot -10 or better in a tournament. He tied the second lowest score in the first round when he fired a 65. He also tied for first at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic at -12, tying the second-lowest score to par in school history. He opened the tournament with his second 65 of the season, becoming the first golfer in school history with two rounds of 65 or better. Boandl set the school record with a 36-hole score of 133. He opened the spring season with a fifth-place finish at the Border Olympics.
"I'm really excited to go to Washington," said Boandl. "I'm really excited to go with Daniel. I think that will make it more exciting to have a friend with me. We've competed really well all season and it'll be a good time."
Zou, named to the AAC All-Conference team and the Freshman of the Year, becomes the first freshman in school history to earn a bid to NCAA Regionals. He is second on the team with a 71.64 stroke average, a 0.00 average vs. par, nine rounds in the 60's and 126 birdies. He's also tied for the lead with 20 rounds of par or better. He has three top 10 and five top 20 finishes. Zou tied for first-place at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic at -12, where fired a final round 66. He tied for eighth at the Border Olympics and finished in 10th-place at the Cabo Collegiate, where he defeated the No. 1 and No. 3 ranked player in the country. He was named the AAC Golfer of the Week after his performance at Cabo.
"I'm really looking forward to it," said Zou. "It's my freshman year, my first year playing in college, and I'm really excited to go to regionals in my first year. Lukas and I have been competing all year and I'm glad I have him along for the trip."
Rice is one of just four schools to send multiple individuals to regionals, joining Arkansas State, Loyola Marymount, and UTEP.
Along with Bremerton, the other regionals include Amherst, Va., hosted by Liberty, Fayetteville, Ark., hosted by Arkansas, Reno, Nev., hosted by Nevada, Tallahassee, Fla., hosted by Florida State, and Urbana, Ill., hosted by Illinois.
The low individual not on the top five teams will advance to the NCAA Championship, May 23-28, at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
The Regional takes place May 12-14, at Gold Mountain Golf Club and hosted by Washington.
They become the fifth and sixth and Rice golfers to earn individual bids to NCAA Regionals, and the first since Jake Benson in 2019. It is also the second time that the Owls had a pair of golfers earn bids, joining Mitchell Meissner and Mario Carmona in 2018.
Boandl is the No. 2 individual seed in the regional, while Zou is the No. 5 seed.
"We're excited for the opportunity," said Rice Men's Golf Head Coach Justin Emil. "It's been since 2019 that we've had an individual in regionals. I couldn't be more proud of Lukas and Daniel. They really led the show for us this year. Lukas came out with a win in the very first tournament, and Daniel, as a freshman, to make the impact that he made was very special. I'm really excited for them and the rest of the team. You can see where we're headed as a program."
Boandl was named to the AAC All-Conference team. He leads the team with a 71.34 stroke average, a -0.28 average to par, 20 rounds of par or better, and 134 birdies. He has 10 rounds in the 60's, becoming the second golfer in school history with at least 10 in a season. His season stroke average and average vs. par are the second fewest in school history.
The Konigsdorf, Austria native has three top five, three top 10, and seven top 20 finishes. He won his first career tournament at the Argent Financial Classic, finishing -10 to become the fourth golfer in school history to shoot -10 or better in a tournament. He tied the second lowest score in the first round when he fired a 65. He also tied for first at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic at -12, tying the second-lowest score to par in school history. He opened the tournament with his second 65 of the season, becoming the first golfer in school history with two rounds of 65 or better. Boandl set the school record with a 36-hole score of 133. He opened the spring season with a fifth-place finish at the Border Olympics.
"I'm really excited to go to Washington," said Boandl. "I'm really excited to go with Daniel. I think that will make it more exciting to have a friend with me. We've competed really well all season and it'll be a good time."
Zou, named to the AAC All-Conference team and the Freshman of the Year, becomes the first freshman in school history to earn a bid to NCAA Regionals. He is second on the team with a 71.64 stroke average, a 0.00 average vs. par, nine rounds in the 60's and 126 birdies. He's also tied for the lead with 20 rounds of par or better. He has three top 10 and five top 20 finishes. Zou tied for first-place at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic at -12, where fired a final round 66. He tied for eighth at the Border Olympics and finished in 10th-place at the Cabo Collegiate, where he defeated the No. 1 and No. 3 ranked player in the country. He was named the AAC Golfer of the Week after his performance at Cabo.
"I'm really looking forward to it," said Zou. "It's my freshman year, my first year playing in college, and I'm really excited to go to regionals in my first year. Lukas and I have been competing all year and I'm glad I have him along for the trip."
Rice is one of just four schools to send multiple individuals to regionals, joining Arkansas State, Loyola Marymount, and UTEP.
Along with Bremerton, the other regionals include Amherst, Va., hosted by Liberty, Fayetteville, Ark., hosted by Arkansas, Reno, Nev., hosted by Nevada, Tallahassee, Fla., hosted by Florida State, and Urbana, Ill., hosted by Illinois.
The low individual not on the top five teams will advance to the NCAA Championship, May 23-28, at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Players Mentioned
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