Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Nighthawks dominant in regional title victory

May 12, 2025
The Âé¶¹´«Ã½ men's golf team cruised to the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional title to earn a spot in the national championship. Earlier in the week, the Âé¶¹´«Ã½ women battled to the end in their regional.

Article By: Staff

The Âé¶¹´«Ã½ (Âé¶¹´«Ã½) men's golf team left no doubt in claiming back-to-back NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional titles. Buoyed by the second-best 54-hole score in program history at 28-under-par from May 8-10, the Nighthawks finished 24 strokes clear of the field at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

With the decisive triumph, Âé¶¹´«Ã½ advanced to the 2025 NCAA Division II national championship May 19-23 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Nighthawks are aiming for a national title a year after finishing as national runner-up.

Âé¶¹´«Ã½'s dominant performance came against the toughest regional field in the country as 15 of the Golf Coaches Association of America's top 25 teams competed at Mission Inn Resort.

"It's the toughest regional in the country. You kind of feel like you're playing with house money going into the national championship. That's the fun part," Âé¶¹´«Ã½ head coach  said. "The grueling test is this thing every year. We're looking forward to going down to Palm Beach Gardens and seeing what we can get into." 

With 5-under-par 67 May 10 in the final round of the regional, graduate student  claimed individual medalist honors in the South/Southeast Regional for the second straight year. Vajda finished the tournament at 10-under-par and in a tie for first place with Wingate University's Brandon Skidmore. 

In a two-person playoff, Vajda made quick work of Skidmore by sticking his approach shot one foot from the pin on the first playoff hole before tapping in the birdie for his third victory this season. 

Vajda, a Canton, Georgia, native, was below par in all three rounds of the tournament with scores of 71, 68 and 67 over the three-day regional. 

"He's such a good player. He's so mature," Worley said. "He's just so even-keeled. Nothing really bothers him."

Vajda set the tone for the rest of the Nighthawks to have a big week right by his side. All five Âé¶¹´«Ã½ golfers finished in the top 13 or better, marking the first time this season the team has accomplished such a feat. 

Senior  shot a 2-under 70 with three birdies on the back nine May 10 to finish in seventh place for his third top-10 showing this year. Rounding out the scoring for Âé¶¹´«Ã½ were senior , junior  and sophomore , all three of which landed in a six-way tie for 13th place at 2-under for the tournament.

Âé¶¹´«Ã½ put the college golf world on notice, particularly in a second round 15-under-par tally that included all four scoring golfers shooting 69 or better.

"We talked about focus and how important it was. Sometimes you can try too hard, and you just have to free yourself up and just know that you're good enough," Worley said.

Âé¶¹´«Ã½ women wrap up season in regional playoff

The Âé¶¹´«Ã½ women's golf team made it to the second playoff hole of the NCAA Division II South Regional.

Things were not looking like the Âé¶¹´«Ã½ women's golf team was hoping down the stretch of the third and final round of the NCAA Division II South Regional at Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville, Georgia, on May 7. That's when the Nighthawks dug deep and forced a three-team playoff for the fourth and final spot from this regional in the NCAA Division II championship.

and each birdied the 18th hole to force the extra play. Âé¶¹´«Ã½ matched up with University of Tampa and Wingate University in the playoff. The Nighthawks and Wingate outlasted Tampa on the first playoff hole before Wingate prevailed on the second playoff hole.

While the push to reach nationals came up short, Âé¶¹´«Ã½'s accomplishments and resilience in the program's first NCAA regional tournament were undeniable.

"This is just such a special group," head coach said. "It's been the honor of a lifetime to coach them and watch them flourish."

Led by seniors Rippee, and , Campbell said this group laid a foundation for the program.

"We're not done. That wasn't a peak for us," Campbell said. "I'm really excited to see what the future looks like. And what a blessing to have something that's so hard to say goodbye to." 


Student-athletes receive WHOOP wearables

Student-athletes receive WHOOP wearables

Âé¶¹´«Ã½ is expanding its bold investment in human performance by issuing WHOOP wearables to 54 student-athletes this fall.
Basketball teams aim to build on success

Basketball teams aim to build on success

The Âé¶¹´«Ã½ women's and men's basketball teams are aiming to continue their recent trends of postseason and regular-season success.
Horton inducted into Tulane Hall of Fame

Horton inducted into Tulane Hall of Fame

JT Horton, Âé¶¹´«Ã½ Athletics director of development, has been inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame as the 2008-09 women's golf team head coach.
Evans joins NABC Board of Directors

Evans joins NABC Board of Directors

Âé¶¹´«Ã½ men's basketball head coach Dan Evans is in elite company as one of nine men's basketball head coaches named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Board of Directors in September.