MESA, Ariz. - [Championship Schedule] The University of British Columbia won the 71st Annual NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship with a tournament score of +5, making a charge in the final round.  The Thunderbirds benefited from 13 birdies to shoot two-under-par as a team on the day.      

UBC started the day staring up at a five shot deficit between them and the 54-hole leader Keiser (Fla.). That didn’t phase the Thunderbirds though, as they took to the course and started making good scores early.  JP Kahlert got the scoring started early, going three under on the front nine to help alleviate the pressure from his teammates.  His score of -2 on the round was the team best for the day.  

After holding the top spot on the leaderboard for the last three days, the Seahawks shot twelve over par as a team.  That score dropped them to third place as a team and left the door wide open for UBC and The Master’s (Calif.) to make a run at the Red Banner.  When The Master’s posted their team score of -2 for the day they were alone in the top spot as a team for the tournament.  Ultimately British Columbia would get clutch birdies out of their last pairings to take the lead right back.  

The race for an individual championship came down to the wire, with Easton Johnson of the Master’s (Calif.) and Hugo Ronnberg of Bellevue (Neb.) tied at -8 after four rounds.  The two headed back to the 18th tee for their first playoff hole and neither player wanted to give in, leading to two birdies and a second playoff hole.  Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, but Ronnberg’s approach shot found a greenside bunker whereas Johnson found himself just off the front edge of the green.  It was Easton Johnson who was able to get up and down for another birdie, and was crowned the Individual Champion of the NAIA.   

Top 10 Team Standings

1 - British Columbia (+5)

2 - The Master’s (Cali.) (+8)

3 - Keiser (Fla.) (+14)

T4 - Lindsey Wilson (+16)

T4 - Victoria (BC) (+16)

6 - Bellevue (Neb.) (+21)

T7 - Coastal Georgia (+25)

T7 - Oklahoma City (+25)

9 - OUAZ (Ariz.) (+29)

10 - Dalton State (+30)

Top 10 Individual Standings

T1 - Easton Johnson (The Master’s)  (-8)*

T1 - Hugo Ronnberg (Bellevue) (-8)

3 - Callum Waugh (Lindsey Wilson) (-7)

4 - George Langham (Coastal Georgia) (-4)

T5 - Leandro Mihaich (Oklahoma City) (-3)

T5 - Jackson Stone (Truett-McConnell) (-3)

T5 - Jack Dudeck (The Master’s) (-3)

T5 - Robin Conlan (Victoria (BC)) (-3)

T9 - Trevor Lewis (Embry-Riddle (AZ)) (-2)

T9 - Gavin Noble (Dalton State) (-2)

*- Won in playoff

All-Tournament honors were given to those in the Top 15 plus ties. It includes the list of the Top 10 individuals plus Cole Stevens of Point (Ga.), Hudson Lafayette of British Columbia, Rio Saigal of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Dylan Teeter of Oklahoma city, Peyton Shedd of Truett McConnell (Ga.) and Aidan Schumer of British Columbia.