No. 10-ranked UCO Opens Season In Missouri

Four Starters Return For The Bronchos, Including Three All-Americans

A veteran and proven Central Oklahoma men's golf team makes its 2024-25 debut next week with a trip to Warrensburg, Mo. for The Mule, a 54-hole tournament hosted by Central Missouri at Mules National Golf Club.

The two-day, 54-hole event opens Monday with 36 holes at the 6,362-yard, par-70 layout and concludes with 18 holes Tuesday. Nineteen teams are scheduled to compete in the first of five fall tournaments for UCO.

The No. 10-ranked Bronchos are coming off one of their best seasons in years and feature four returning starters, including three All-Americans. UCO had top-three finishes in 12 of 13 tournaments last year with four wins, including its first regional title since 2015.

Central went on to a third-place finish in the stroke-play portion of the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships before being ousted in the quarterfinals of match play by eventual champion Colorado Christian.

"We're coming off a great season, but that was last year and it doesn't mean anything now," said head coach Derrick Thompson, who was a finalist for Division II Coach of the Year in 2023-24. "We have a bunch of our top players back and they worked hard all summer to get ready.

"Our guys are excited to get started. We want to build on what we did last year and just keep getting better every week."

Making up Central's five-man squad in the season-opener will be seniors Bennett Baldwin, Dylan Henderson and Jordan Wilson along with junior Karsten Paciotti and sophomore Nick Canales.

Wilson was a first-team All-America choice last spring after coming in as a mid-year transfer from Oklahoma State. He had a sensational 71.08 scoring average in eight tournaments with eight rounds in the 60s and placed in the top six seven times, including four runner-up showings – the last of those coming at the national tournament.

Canales fashioned a 71.68 average in 11 tournaments with 11 rounds in the 60s and was a second-team All-American. He had seven top-20 finishes with one win and was runner-up in the regional tournament that UCO won.

Baldwin earned third-team All-America honors after finishing with a 72.35 average in 11 tournaments with nine rounds in the 60s. He won one tournament had five other top-10 placings.

Henderson is UCO's other returning starter and the senior veteran put together a 73.3 average in 10 tournaments last year with five rounds in the 60s. He finished in the top 20 five times, including three times in the top 10.

Paciotti is a newcomer to the Bronchos of sorts. The Katy, Texas native transferred from Division III Dallas University and sat out a redshirt season for the Bronchos last year. He was a two-year starter for the Crusaders.

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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