Vagberg fired a pair of clutch birdies down the stretch on the way to a final-round 69 and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA New Haven Regional. As the low individual not on an advancing team, Vagberg will receive a berth to the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., May 27-June 1.
"It's incredible," Vagberg said. "I'm still kind of speechless. I've been telling everyone who's been calling and texting, "What the hell just happened?'"
Vagberg was a picture of consistency this week, shooting 68-68-69 on the 6,409-yard, Par 70 layout at the Yale Golf Course. He is the third player program history to reach the NCAA Championships as an individual, joining Reg Millage (2000) and Ted Brown (2003).
"He was just nails the whole week," said first-year VCU Head Coach Andy Walker. "It's as solid three days of ball-striking I've seen my entire life."
It's a remarkable turnaround for the senior from Sollentuna, Sweden, who missed the entire fall season with back soreness. It took months to pinpoint the source of Vagberg's back issues, and even as he rehabbed, progress was slow. Prior to the spring season, he was unsure if his back could handle the rigors of back-to-back tournaments or 36-hole days.
To Vagberg's surprise, his back held up as the spring drew on, and his swing sharpened. Two weeks ago, he shot 6-under to capture the Atlantic 10 Conference individual championship in Orlando, Fla., a victory which granted him a spot in the NCAA Regional round.
"It's been a grind for sure," Vagberg said. "I've just been working hard and taking it one tournament at a time. I think I played three full [practice] rounds in the fall. I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to play.
"I think I've really found something, just a mindset that really clicks with me, I guess. I've struck the ball better this semester than any other semester of my VCU career."
Vagberg found himself a long way from that uncertainty this week. He bogeyed just once in Monday's opening round in New Haven to vault himself into contention. Five Tuesday birdies and another 68 pushed him into sixth place heading into Wednesday's final round. On Wednesday, Vagberg shook off a bogey on No. 13 with birdies on 14 and 17, which gave him a 2-stroke cushion and his first NCAA Championship appearance.
It's a nice way to a cap a week in which Vagberg also graduated from VCU with his degree in Physics.
"It's not a coincidence," Walker said of Vagberg's regional performance. "Good things happen to good people. He did everything right. He did everything the right way."
Original source can be found here.
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