Bearcats Prepare for 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship
The Men's Golf team is in Rochester, New York, this week preparing to compete in the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship. The first round of the event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th, and the five members of the team competing in the championship are Jack Carr, Brock Olson, Alexander Papajohn, Lucas Paul, and Oliver Smith.
The first two rounds of the championship will be held on two different courses, with each team playing a course once. Willamette's opening round is scheduled to take place at the Midvale Country Club in Penfield, New York. The Bearcats' round is scheduled to begin at 8:35 a.m. EDT/5:35 a.m. PDT, and they will be partnered with Illinois Wesleyan University and Kenyon College. The same three teams will play together in round two, this time playing at Cobblestone Creek Country Club with tee times starting at 12:50 p.m. EDT/9:50 a.m. PDT.
"The NCAA Championship is such an incredible experience for our players and we are really excited to be in Rochester competing this year", said Director of Golf Patrick Daughtery. "It's a really good field, combined with two dynamic golf courses, and is going to be a test for sure. It will come down to preparation and how well we handle the elements". The weather forecast for Tuesday's first round calls for sunshine, but rain and wind are predicted for the final days of the championship.
There are 43 teams and 10 individuals (not on the competing teams) who will start the championship on Tuesday. After the first two rounds, the field will be cut down to eighteen teams and six individuals for the final two rounds. Rounds three and four will both take place at Midvale Country Club.
This is the fifth time in the past six seasons that Willamette has competed in the Division III Men's Golf Championship (note: no championship was held in 2020 due to COVID-19). The Bearcats' best finish was a tie for eleventh in 2021 and they finished in thirteenth place in 2019. They finished eighteenth in 2023, their last time at the championship.
St. John Fisher University is the host of the 2025 Championship and has created a website with additional information about the event.