Men's Golf 9/10/2024 3:30:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Win The Mule, Canales Takes Top Honors

Central Oklahoma Won Its First Tournament Of The New Year In Convincing Fashion

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Oklahoma, in its season debut, captured its first tournament title of the 2024-25 season Tuesday with Nick Canales also taking his first individual title of the new year as the Bronchos rolled through The Mule at Mules National hosted by the University of Central Missouri.

Central Oklahoma won the team title with a 54-hole score of 839 (278-284-277). Host Central Missouri took second 14 shots back with an 853. Its B-team finished third with an 858. Minnesota Crookston (862) and Harding (865) rounded out the top five team performances.

"Proud of the guys," UCO head men's golf coach Derrick Thompson said. "You never know how you're going to play in your first tournament of the year. The guys have done a great job of staying focused and it was really good to see them come out here and play this way.

"This is a tough tournament," Thompson continued. "And it's a tough golf course. The guys played great and we're happy to be going home with the win."

Tuesday marks the eighth win of Thompson's career at Central Oklahoma, where he began coaching in 2021.

Canales surged to his second career title with an impressive final round that ranks among the best in school history. After opening with a 2-under 68 and following that with an even-par 70 in Monday's first two rounds, Canales got hot on Tuesday. The La Porte, Texas native and sophomore shot a 7-under-par 63 to race up the leaderboard, where he took the individual title by one stroke.

Canales shot a round in the 60s 11 times last year on his way to All-American honors. That included a school record 62. His 7-under 63 on Tuesday is now tied for the third-best round in school history for both strokes and vs. par.

Canales won The Mule by one shot and he edged out teammate Jordan Wilson. The senior Broncho, last season's national runner up and another All-American, held the lead after Monday's first two rounds. Wilson shot a 5-under 65 and a 3-under 67 to take command of the tournament. He posted a 3-over-par 73 on Tuesday, slipping back to second in the field behind the surging Canales.

Bennett Baldwin, a third returning All-American in the UCO lineup, finished ninth at The Mule Tuesday. On Monday, the senior posted rounds of 70 & 71 and he followed that up with another even-par 70 on Tuesday. His 211 earned him a top 10 finish and helped UCO to its runaway title.

Karsten Paciotti made his Central debut this week and the senior finished 40th in the individual standings with a 12-over-par 222. Paciotti, who is from Texas, posted rounds of 75, 73, and 74 this week in Missouri. Dylan Henderson was also in the lineup for the Bronchos. He shot a 13-over 223 this week with rounds of 77, 75, and 71.

Central Oklahoma has five tournaments on its fall schedule and will be off next week before heading to Florida the following week for the NCAA National Preview. The Bronchos, ranked No. 10 in the country, returns to PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where it finished third at least year's national championship. UCO tees off from Florida Sept. 23-24.

The Bronchos are also scheduled to play the Regional Preview at St. Joseph Country Club in St. Joseph, Missouri Oct. 7-8, the Ichabod Invitational at Topeka Country Club in Topeka, Kansas Oct. 21-22, and the DBU Classic at Rockwall Golf Club in Rockwall, Texas Oct. 28-29.

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Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin: Junior

Dylan Henderson: Junior

Karsten Paciotti: 5' 10"; Junior

Nick Canales: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

Jordan Wilson: 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin
: Junior

Dylan Henderson
: Junior

Karsten Paciotti
: 5' 10"; Junior

Nick Canales
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

Jordan Wilson
: 5' 8"; Junior