BYU freshman golfer Kihei Akina finished tied for eighth place at the NCAA championships in Carlsbad, California, after posting a 2-under-par 70 in the final round Monday.
Akina finished the tournament at 8-under-par overall, continuing what has been an impressive freshman season. He recorded scores under par in all four rounds and remained near the top of the leaderboard throughout the week.
During the final round, Akina played steady golf, recording three birdies through his first 14 holes. After dropping a pair of shots on the back nine, he bounced back with a birdie on his final hole to close out the season on a strong note.
The Big 12 Freshman of the Year stood out among the 156-player field, leading the tournament in par-4 scoring and finishing with two eagles over the four-day event. His tie for eighth marked his 11th top-10 finish of the season.
Akina said he was proud of the way he played this year and felt his first season at the collegiate level exceeded his expectations.
BYU director of golf Todd Miller also praised Akina's performance, mentioning his consistency and composure while competing against some of the nation's best golfers.
Akina's strong finish capped off an impressive freshman season that included 11 top-10 finishes.