CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Michael La Sasso is close with Braden Thornberry, the 2017 NCAA individual champion at Ole Miss, and chats with him often.

Coming into the postseason, Thornberry told La Sasso, now a junior for the Rebels, to enjoy the final tournaments of the year and have plenty of fun. Safe to say La Sasso took that advice to heart.

La Sasso captured the 2025 NCAA Men's Golf Championship individual title on Monday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa's North Course, joining Thornberry as the only individual winners from Ole Miss. He shot even-par 72 on Monday, finishing at 11-under 277 for the week and two shots in front of Texas A&M senior Phichaksn Maichon.

With the win, La Sasso earns an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont and the 2026 Masters, provided he remains an amateur.

La Sasso's finish was also big, as he helped Ole Miss earn the final spot for match play, which begins Tuesday in the quarterfinals.