Canales leads UCO to second, Rogers State third in NCAA Super Regional at Kickingbird
Nick Canales finished second and lifted host University of Central Oklahoma to a second-place showing in the NCAA Super Regional concluding Tuesday at Kickingbird Golf Course in Edmond.
The Bronchos posted a 54-hole score of 5-over-par 845 (282-277-286), three shots behind Arkansas Tech which won the team title with an 842. Rogers State, Henderson State, and Missouri Southern rounded out the top five teams.
Canales also finished runner up in the individual standings. The redshirt freshman posted a 54-hole 200 (66-66-68). He was one shot back of Harding’s Sam Tandy (199) for the individual title.
(214), Ross Taylor (215), and Baylor Bostick (216) rounded out UCO’s counting scores. Dylan Henderson (226) also competed for the Bronchos.
It was the final tournament of the fall season for the Bronchos, who had three runner-up finishes and a pair of third-place showings.
“It was close all the way and we had our chances, but just came up a little short,” head coach Derrick Thompson said. “Nick played great all three rounds and Evan came through with a big round today.
“We had a really good fall season and I’m proud of our guys for putting us in position to win every week. We made a lot of progress and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do in the spring.”
Southern Nazarene hosted the event, and will host the 2024 NCAA Division II Central Region Championship in May at KickingBird.
This week, Canales nearly replicated the dominant performance that earned him a pair of school records earlier this fall. The La Porte, Texas native already shot a 198 through 54 holes last month, setting a new school record. His 200 this week is now the second-best mark in school history.
Rogers State finished in third place after turning in a card of 846 (+6), and finished just four strokes behind tournament champion Arkansas Tech.
Daniel Robles Delval led RSU in a tie for sixth place after shooting 206 (-4) across the three rounds. The junior drained 11 birdies and two eagles across the 54 holes.
Tyler Collier finished in a tie for 17 at 212 (+2). Thomas Barnes Grimes finished in a five-way tie for 26th with a 214 (+4). Tyler Cornwell finished in a four-way tie for 38th with a 217 (+7). Elliot-Han Monteremal rounded out the group in a four-way tie for 76th with a 226 (+16).
Other Oklahoma schools to compete included Southwestern Oklahoma State, which finished 10th at 857. Northeastern Oklahoma State placed 12th at 861. Southeastern Oklahoma State and host Southern Nazarene tied for 17th at 893.
For NSU,Gabe Replogle tied for ninth, shooting  208 (70-69-69).  Brett Wilcoxen finished the final round with a tournament-best 66 and ended one stroke behind Replogle and just outside the top ten with a 209 (74-69-66).