PENFIELD, N.Y. – The Carleton College men's golf team wrapped up an impressive week of play at the NCAA Division III Championships with a final-round 296 and finished in a tie for 13th place overall at the four-day national tournament.
This is the 27th time that a Carleton men's program has posted a top-15 team finish at the NCAA Championships (see chart below).
The fourth round began on Thursday afternoon due to concern regarding the Friday's weather forecast, which proved warranted as play was halted early on due to more rainy weather. After a lengthy delay, the Knights completed the final four holes to wrap up their first-ever trip to Nationals
The field began with 43 teams, and Carleton was one of the top 18 squads to make the cut and compete in the final two rounds at the tournament. The Knights finished the 72-hole tournament with a score of 1,202 (+50, 294-309-303-296).
"The first trip to nationals was a great experience; I'm so proud of this entire team," said Carleton head coach
Sloan Wallgren. "A special congrats to senior
Ryan Choi for getting an eagle in his final collegiate round and earning a 12th-place finish.
"Also, a shout out to junior
Gordon Walker for his best collegiate round during the fourth round. He made seven birdies in the final round to shoot 67."
No. 1 ranked Methodist University completed an impressive comeback to win its 15th national title with a team score of 1,175 (+23). The Monarchs were 19th after the first day of play.
No. 5 Illinois Wesleyan University finished second at 1,180 (+28), with No. 3 Emory University (1,182), No. 2 Washington and Lee (1,183), and No. 11 Carnegie Mellon University (1,185) earned third, fourth, and fifth places, respectively. No. 9 Huntingdon (1,190), No. 7 Lynchburg (1,191), No. 6 Oglethorpe (1,193), No. 8 Aurora (1,195), and No. 4 Sewanee (1,197) rounded out the top 10.
No. 25 Rochester tied with No. 19 Gettysburg for 11th at 1,999 strokes, while Kenyon College got a birdie from its last golfer on the course to tie Carleton for 13th place.
The Knights entered the week listed at No. 47 in the nation but finished ahead of 11 teams listed higher on the Clippd rankings, including a four top-20 programs.
Walker's 67 tied for the lowest score by any golfer in any round of the tournament. He played holes No. 1-15 on Thursday at four-under, then came out on Friday with a par, birdie, and par to complete his round that included seven birdies. Walker finished in a tie for 14th place with a four-day total of 294 (+6, 74-76-77-67).
Choi, the medalist at the MIAC Championships, wrapped up his college career by tying for 12th place, topped off with an eagle on hole No. 17 on Friday. Choi was at four-over when the play was suspended on Thursday due to darkness. He re-started his round on Friday, needing to play the final four holes, and ended with a bogey, par, eagle, and par, leading the Knights with a tournament total of 293 (+5, 70-79-69-75).
Sam Higaki had two holes to play on Friday after completing the first 16 holes of the round four at five-over par. The sophomore completed his final round with a birdie and a bogey to card a 77 (+5). He ended the tournament with a score of 305 (+17, 73-78-77-77) and a tie for 59th.
Justin Rodriguez played 16 holes of the fourth round on Thursday at six-over par. On Friday, the sophomore birdied hole No. 17 and finished with a par on No. 18 for a 77 (+5) on the round to complete the scoring for the Knights. Rodriguez finished in a tie for 79th place with a score of 312 (+24, 77-76-82-77).
First-year
Gareth Birney played his entire fourth round on Thursday and carded a final round 89 (+17) to conclude the tournament with a 72-hole score of 333 (+45, 80-84-80-89).
Top team finishes by Carleton men's programs at the NCAA Championships
1st -- Men's Cross Country, 1980
3rd -- Men's Cross Country, 1979
4th -- Men's Cross Country, 1975
4th -- Men's Cross Country, 1976
5th -- Men's Cross Country, 1981
5th -- Men's Tennis, 1985 (tied)
6th -- Men's Cross Country, 1974
7th -- Men's Outdoor Track & Field, 2021
8th -- Men's Indoor Track & Field, 1988
8th -- Men's Swimming & Diving, 1988
8th -- Men's Outdoor Track & Field, 1988
8th -- Men's Cross Country, 2004
9th -- Men's Cross Country, 1994
9th -- Men's Soccer, 2008
10th -- Men's Outdoor Track & Field, 1977
10th -- Men's Cross Country, 2017
11th -- Men's Cross Country, 1973
11th -- Men's Cross Country, 1993 (tied)
11th -- Men's Outdoor Track & Field, 2019 (tied)
11th -- Men's Cross Country, 2019
12th -- Men's Outdoor Track & Field, 1989
13th -- Men's Golf, 2025 (tied)
14th -- Men's Cross Country, 1996
14th -- Men's Cross Country, 2018
15th -- Men's Cross Country, 1977
15th -- Men's Indoor Track & Field, 1989 (tied)
15th -- Men's Cross Country, 1995
