John Carroll Makes Statement, Denison Continues Dynasty: 2026 NCAC Golf Championships
Harry Zaye | The Ohio Athletic
Jonathan Oakes club twirls after sticking his approach shot to 12’ for a chance at a birdie putt on hole 7 at Avalon Lakes during the final round of the NCAC Championship. Harry Zaye / The Ohio Athletic
Warren, OH - The North Coast Athletic Conference has become one of the premier Division III golf conferences in the country. Between nationally ranked programs, NCAA tournament regulars, and several individual stars, this past weekend’s NCAC Championships in northeast Ohio showcased exactly why the conference continues to gain national respect.
On the men’s side, John Carroll University entered the weekend looking to make history. The Blue Streaks accomplished exactly that, winning the program’s first ever NCAC Men’s Golf Championship at Avalon Lakes Golf Course. John Carroll finished the 54-hole tournament with rounds of 299, 299, and 300 for a total score of 898, narrowly edging out both Wittenberg University and Kenyon College in what turned into a tightly contested championship battle.
The Blue Streaks were steady from start to finish throughout the weekend. John Carroll held the lead entering Sunday and never allowed the pressure of the final round to shake them. Junior Wade Boyle stepped up huge for the Blue Streaks, earning medalist honors and the NCAC Bob Nye Award after carding rounds of 72, 75, and 72 for a tournament total of 219. Teammate Justy VonLehmden was right behind him at 220, giving John Carroll the top two individual finishers in the field.
Kenyon made a serious push late in the tournament behind one of the best rounds of the weekend. Jonathan Oakes fired a final-round 68, the lowest score of the championship, to jump into third place individually with a 221 total. Wittenberg’s Mark Sulek and DePauw’s Andrew Wall both finished tied for fourth at 223.
With the conference championship victory, John Carroll secured the NCAC’s automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships at Mission Resort & Club. Shortly after the tournament concluded, the NCAA announced that Kenyon also earned an at-large selection into nationals, while Wittenberg sophomore Mikey Schutte received an individual bid after his seventh-place finish at the NCAC Championship.
Camryn Nelson of Kenyon (left), Emma Pasawat of DePauw (middle), and Isabella Dolan of Denison (right) congratulate each other after completing the 54 hole NCAC Championship. Harry Zaye / The Ohio Athletic
While the men’s championship featured a first-time conference champion, the women’s side continued a dynasty that has become very familiar across the NCAC.
Denison University captured its sixth consecutive NCAC Women’s Golf Championship at Squaw Creek Golf Course, further cementing itself as one of the top Division III programs in the region. The Big Red finished with a 54-hole team score of 942 after rounds of 316, 308, and 318. Kenyon College placed second with a 967, while DePauw University finished just one stroke behind in third at 968.
The individual title on the women’s side brought plenty of drama as Kenyon teammates Rafaela Plasa and Sasha Belova finished regulation tied at 230 overall. After two playoff holes, Plasa secured gold medalist honors with a par finish to claim the 2026 NCAC Women’s Golf individual title.
DePauw’s Becky Williams and Denison’s Siena Maschke both tied for third individually at 232, while Denison’s Natalia Fanucchi rounded out the All-Tournament Team at 233.
Denison’s conference title secured the program’s automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships at Desert Willow Golf Resort later this month.
The NCAC continues to prove itself as one of the strongest conferences in Division III golf. Between John Carroll breaking through for a historic men’s title and Denison continuing its dominance on the women’s side, the conference now turns its attention toward the national stage with multiple teams and individuals ready to compete against the best in the country.
