Men's Golf 10/6/2026 2:58:00 PM

Canales, Bronchos Finish Off Record-setting Wins

UCO Sets 54-hole Scoring Records for Individual and Team

EDMOND – Nick Canales cruised to his second straight individual title and Central Oklahoma finished off a record-setting performance to earn an easy victory in the Skip Wagnon Invitational Tuesday.

Canales closed with a two-under-par 68 to finish three trips around the 6,964-yard, par -70 KickingBird Golf Club with a sizzling 16-under 194 total. That was good for a three-shot triumph in the individual race and the senior All-American broke his own UCO 54-hole scoring record by four shots.

The Bronchos ended up a staggering 40-under for the tournament to finish at 800 and eclipse the school 54-hole team scoring mark by 10 shots. UCO shot a final-round 278 in beating second-place Oklahoma Christian by seven shots.

Harding was third in the 18-team field at 814, following by Arkansas Tech (819) and Hutchinson Community College (824). UCO's second-team unit tied for 11th with a 840 total.

"We didn't play as well today, but held our own and finished the job," head coach Derrick Thompson said. "I'm super proud of our guys for the way they took care of business this week. The playing conditions were perfect and we took advantage."

UCO also got a one-under 69 from John Helzer in the final round, while Bryant Polhill shot 70, William Whorton 71 and Rhett Hughes 73. Helzer tied for third in the medalist standings with a 12-under 198 that tied the previous school 54-hole scoring record and Whorton tied for 14th at seven-under 203.

Canales, who had rounds of 62-64 to take control of the individual race, had a steady day in finishing off his sixth career win.

The senior birdied the par-4 second and par-4 seventh holes to make the turn at two-under 33, then got to three under with another birdie at the par-4 10th. He followed with five straight pars before making a rare bogey on No. 16 before finished with two easy pars.

Canales made 19 birdies against three bogeys during his record-setting performance.

Helzer was third after shooting 67-62 Monday and stayed there with his closing 69. The freshman had birdies on the par-5 fourth and par-4 13th holes to go along with 15 pars before bogeying his final hole on No. 18.

Ty Hyatt had the low final round for the B team with a four-under 66 that included five birdies against one bogey.

Andrew Talburt closed with a 69 in tying for 11th at eight-under 211. His up-and-down day included five birdies and four bogeys.

The Bronchos close out their fall schedule at the Newman Fall Invitational next Monday and Tuesday in Andover, Kansas.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Nick Canales: Senior

Rhett Hughes: Junior

Ty Hyatt: Junior

Bryant Polhill: Junior

Andrew Talburt: Senior

John Helzer: Freshman

William Whorton: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nick Canales
: Senior

Rhett Hughes
: Junior

Ty Hyatt
: Junior

Bryant Polhill
: Junior

Andrew Talburt
: Senior

John Helzer
: Freshman

William Whorton
: Freshman