CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas men's golf team was announced as one of the 14 teams in the Reno, Nevada Regional for the 2025 NCAA Men's Golf Championships, which takes place from May 12-14. The announcement comes after the Bears claimed their first ASUN Championship last week.
It marks the first NCAA Regional for the men's golf team, and a first for every Bear involved. The Bears are led by interim head coach
Josh Turnock, and the Bears returned zero rounds from last season's team, meaning it will be a learning experience for all involved from Central Arkansas.
The Bears won in exciting fashion at the ASUN Championships, winning over Stetson by one stroke.
Noah Blaickner placed second,
Jack Wilson placed sixth, and the Bears had all four of their counting scores in the top-30. The Bears sunk 57 birdies across three rounds, and penciled in three eagles.
"It was a cool experience (watching the selection show). A lot of people came out to watch, which was really nice to see all of the support. And it was cool to see our name pop up there with some of the big schools, and we're looking forward to competing against them," Turnock said of the experience. "It's cool that we're all new, and it will set us up for their sophomore, junior, senior years, and to try to chase that moving forward. But it's really neat for them to be able to compete for something like this in their first years."
Six 54-hole regional tournaments will be conducted to determine the 30 qualifying teams and six individuals (not on those qualifying teams) who will compete in the finals. Thirteen teams and 10 individuals (not on those teams) will compete at each of three regionals while the other three regionals will have 14 teams and five individuals (not on those teams). The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams will advance to the finals.
All 30 teams and six individuals will complete 54 holes of stroke play. Following 54 holes of competition, the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team will advance for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match-play competition and the 72-hole stroke-play individual champion. The top eight teams after 72 holes of play will be placed into a bracket thereafter.
In team match-play competition, a total of five points will be available with one point being awarded for each individual match. Winning teams will advance to the semifinals and subsequently, the finals. The first team to win three points within the team match will advance, or in the case of the final match, be declared the national champion.
