Men's Golf 4/21/2026 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Nick Canales Named MIAA Golfer of the Year, UCO Leads All-MIAA Picks

Central Oklahoma Has Coach of the Year, Five All-MIAA Selections

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Nick Canales was named MIAA Men's Golfer of the Year and head coach Derrick Thompson MIAA Coach of the Year, the league announced Monday.

UCO had five selections to the 15-person All-MIAA honors. Canales was joined by Baylor Bostick, Karsten Paciotti, Rhett Hughes, and Bryant Polhill. The Bronchos won five tournaments this season, including last week's MIAA Championship.

The MIAA has designated events, two in each semester, and Central won all four of them this season. The Bronchos have a 285.0 scoring average through 10 events, 29 rounds of golf, this season. If held through the remainder of the postseason, it would be a new school record. The Bronchos' 286.6 average during the 2023-24 school year is a record.

With his five wins this season, Thompson has 20 wins as head coach of the Bronchos since taking over the program in 2021-22.

Canales leads UCO with a 71.2 scoring average this season. The junior from La Porte, Texas played in all 10 events and had 18 rounds out of 32 at par or better. He shot in the 60s eight times this season and won the season-opening tournament, The Mule, at Central Missouri in September. Canales also earned All-MIAA honors last season.

Bostick is a three-time All-MIAA recipient. The junior from Duncan, Oklahoma has a 71.9 scoring average through 32 rounds of golf this season. Bostick won the MSSU Fall Invitational and the MIAA Championship last week. Bostick has 18 rounds of par or better this year and a team-high nine rounds in the 60s.

Paciotti is the third Broncho to play in all 32 rounds this season. The senior from Katy, Texas has a 72.1 scoring average with 18 rounds of par or better and six rounds in the 60s. Paciotti's best finish this season is fourth. This is his first All-MIAA honor.

Hughes missed only one tournament this season and in 10 events, 30 rounds of golf, he has a 72.3 scoring average. Hughes, like Canales and Bostick and Paciotti, has 18 rounds of par or better this season. He has eight in the 60s. Hughes finished second in Pittsburg State's tournament and won Washburn's event. He was named MIAA Men's Golfer of the Week after both. This is also Hughes' first All-MIAA honor.

Polhill was the fifth Broncho honored and he did all of his work in the fall semester. Before suffering an injury, the sophomore from Edmond had a 70.4 scoring average in five tournaments. He finished runner-up to Bostick at the MSSU event in October. Polhill had 10 of 15 rounds at par or better and six of them in the 60s.

Central Oklahoma is awaiting the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional Championships May 7-9 in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Bronchos are the top ranked program in the Central Region and have won the last two Central/Midwest Regional titles.

The NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships are scheduled for May 18-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada at Boulder Creek.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Baylor Bostick: Junior

Nick Canales: Junior

Rhett Hughes: Sophomore

Karsten Paciotti: Senior

Bryant Polhill: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Baylor Bostick
: Junior

Nick Canales
: Junior

Rhett Hughes
: Sophomore

Karsten Paciotti
: Senior

Bryant Polhill
: Sophomore