Oklahoma City Holds Off Friends to Capture NAIA Men's Golf National Championship
SILVIS, Ill. -- Oklahoma City closed the 74th Annual Men's Golf National Championship in dramatic fashion and in a familiar spot, the winner's circle.
The Stars captured their seventh tournament title of the season and their NAIA-best 12th men's golf national championship today at TPC Deere Run.
Leading by one shot on the 72nd hole, Oklahoma City's Christian Yanovitch hit a shot to 25 feet and two-putted for a par. The par not only secured the team's national title but also an individual national championship by two strokes over Keiser's (Fla.). Yann Ferrando.
Oklahoma City never trailed after seizing the lead in the second round, posting the best team round of the week, a 2-under par 268. The Stars finished the four-day championship with a team total of 1,153 (290-278-292-293).
Despite opening the final round trailing by six shots, Friends made a historic run on the Stars. The Falcons closed within one shot before succumbing to Oklahoma City. Friends shot the round of the day with a 9-over par 289 to end the tournament at 1,155 (292-284-290-289). The national runner-up finish is the best in Friends' program history.
Hastings (Neb.) finished third at 1,165 (288-301-283-293), while Marian (Ind.) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) tied for fourth with 1,168s.
The national title is Oklahoma City's first since the 2018 season championship, also played at TPC Deere Run.
Yanovitch recorded four birdies in this final round, including two over the last five holes, to claim the individual title. He earned medalist and all-tournament team honors. He ended the tournament as the only golfer to post even par over the four days with a 280 (71-69-70-70).
The top 15 individuals and ties earned all-tournament honors. Those team members are:
|
Pos. |
Student-Athlete |
School |
Score |
|
1 |
Christian Yanovitch |
Oklahoma City |
280 (71-69-70-70) |
|
2 |
Yann Ferrando |
Keiser (Fla.) |
282 (72-71-68-71) |
|
T-3 |
Owen Croft |
Victoria (B.C.) |
283 (68-75-69-71) |
|
Cameron Jones |
Grace (Ind.) |
283 (71-71-73-68) |
|
|
T-5 |
Carter Ray |
Oklahoma City |
285 (68-70-72-75) |
|
Weston Ogden |
Marian (Ind.) |
285 (76-71-68-70) |
|
|
T-7 |
Bernhard Koster |
Friends (Kan.) |
286 (73-68-73-72) |
|
Ryker Dunkley |
Hastings (Neb.) |
286 (73-75-68-70) |
|
|
Stanley White |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
286 (72-71-72-71) |
|
|
Ben McFadden |
Dalton State (Ga.) |
286 (71-74-70-71) |
|
|
Christopher Richards Jr. |
Webber International (Fla.) |
286 (73-70-69-74) |
|
|
T-12 |
Francisco DeBethencourt |
Milligan (Tenn.) |
287 (72-75-71-69) |
|
Lane Zedrick |
Marian (Ind.) |
287 (71-69-69-78) |
|
|
14 |
Felipe Suarez |
Missouri Valley |
288 (74-75-69-70) |
|
T-15 |
Jaeden Ellis |
Science and Arts (Okla.) |
289 (68-75-73-73) |
|
|
Cobey Riddle |
Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) |
289 (70-71-71-77) |
