Palm Coast, FL – OUAZ took home their second straight NCCAA men’s golf national championship, outlasting Wayland Baptist University in a playoff round for the 2026 NCCAA Men’s Golf National Championship on Wednesday, October 21, at the Hammock Beach Conservatory Course in Palm Coast, Florida.

After being tied all week, the national championship came down to the final hole, but neither Sacha Brendle or Corley McLernon could make the birdie putt on the 18^th hole, leading to a playoff for both the team national championship and the individual medalist honor, after DJ Waller of Bob Jones University shot a two-over, 74 to tie for first place individually.

In the team playoff, the two squads headed to the par five, fourth hole, with the best score of the top four competitors counting. In the end, a birdie from Jedd Thomas and a clutch chip shot to set up an easy par putt for McLernon helped the Spirit hold off Wayland Baptist, as their 18 beat out the Pioneers’ score of 24 to earn the national championship.

The playoffs continued for the individual medalist award, as Waller and McLernon battled it out for the medalist title after both scoring a six-over, 222 on the week, and were the only two golfers to record a one-under, 71 at one point during play. On the first playoff hole, the par four, fifth hole, McLernon landed another beautiful chip to set up a par putt after Waller nailed a long putt to record a par of his own. On the par four sixth hole, Waller hit another clutch shot from the fairway to set himself up with a makeable putt for par, and McLernon missed his putt to give Waller the individual medalist honor.

Highlights

• Waller is the first Bob Jones men’s golfer to earn NCCAA All-American honors since Grant Bagwell did so in 2021.
• Grayson Head of Asbury University improved by two strokes from Tuesday, moving five spots up the rankings to finish tied for third overall. Head shot a two-over, 74 on Wednesday, shooting one-under on the front-nine, finishing the week with a nine-over, 225.
• Liam Toole finished tied for third with Head to earn All-American honors for the second straight year, recording a four-over, 76 for the second time this week.
• August Nord from Wayland Baptist moved up three spots to finish fifth thanks to another three-over, 75, his second of the week. Nord started strong with just one bogey on the front-nine and parred his first eight holes.
• Sacha Brendle from Wayland Baptist, Jedd Thomas from OUAZ tied for sixth overall, as both shot an 11-over, 233 this week. Thomas shot his second 76 of the week in the third round, recording a crucial birdie on the 18^th hole to force the playoff.
• Tanner Doeden from the University of Northwestern and Amaury Wouters of Bethel University tied for eighth overall with a 224. Wouters recorded three birdies in the third round to finish the week
• Enzo Dakiche made the largest jump of any individuals into the top-10, moving up seven spots after shooting an even-par, 72 in his final round. The WBU senior recorded two birdies on the front-nine and recorded 11 straight pars to end the day and finished the tournament tied for tenth.
• Carson Besonen from the University of Northwestern and Maxime Olivo of Wayland Baptist round out the top-10, with Besonen moving up four spots thanks to a two-over, 74 in the third round, thanks in part to a pair of birdies on the second and 15^th holes. 

Brady Barrett of OUAZ was named NCCAA Men’s Golf Coach of the Year. A full list of award winners can be found here, while full results from the 2026 NCCAA Men’s Golf National Championship can be found here.

About the NCCAA
Established in 1968, the National Christian College Athletic Association uses intercollegiate athletics to further the Great Commission and is committed to equipping student-athletes and coaches to make a positive impact for Christ. The NCCAA currently holds 24 national championship events for 86 member schools across 28 states and Ontario, Canada. For more information on the NCCAA, visit our website, thenccaa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @thenccaa.