Men's Golf 4/7/2026 6:42:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO, Hughes, End Regular Season With Win

Rhett Hughes Wins Individual Title While Bronchos Win Second Straight, Fifth Of Season

MAYETTA, Kan. – Central Oklahoma won its second tournament in a row and fifth of the season while the Bronchos also got an individual win from sophomore Rhett Hughes Tuesday at Firekeeper Golf Course.

UCO posted a 9-under-par 855 team score. Host Washburn was in second place 13 shots back with an 868. Central Missouri (874), Winona State (881), and Washburn's B team (883) rounded out the top five.

The Bronchos shot rounds of even-par 288 and 6-under 282 on Monday before coming back with a 3-under 285 to win WU's Firekeeper Open Tuesday. UCO also won Pittsburg State's tournament last weekend to go with three fall wins.

"Proud of the guys and really proud of Rhett," UCO head men's golf Derrick Thompson said. "We played well in all three rounds and that is not easy to do. Rhett had to work for it to come back and force the playoff and then got it done. We are so happy for him."

Hughes is a sophomore from Edmond. He transferred to UCO from Nebraska at semester last season. He shot rounds of even-par 72 and a career-best 6-under 66 on Monday, then followed up with another even-par 72 on Tuesday to force a playoff with Washburn's Myles Tarvin (68-69-73).

Nick Canales finished third in the tournament with one of the steadiest performances of his career. The junior from La Porte, Texas shot a 4-under-par 212 this week, with back-to-back 1-under 71s on Monday and a 2-under 70 on Tuesday. Canales sank 16 par putts and had two birdies (No. 4 & No. 11) in the final round.

Karsten Paciotti made it three Bronchos in the top four with an even-par 216 this week. He started with a 1-over 73 and 1-under 71 on Monday then went even-par 72 in the final round to help the Bronchos win the tournament. Paciotti was 1-over after five holes and 2-over after 16, but birdied the 53rd & 54th holes of the tournament to get back to even par.

Baylor Bostick gave UCO four counting scores in the top 10 with his finish. The junior from Duncan shot a 2-over-par 218, finishing with his best round of the tournament on Tuesday with a 1-under 71. After shooting a 72-75 on Monday, Bostick started the day Tuesday with a bogey and a birdie, the six pars in a row. He was 2-over after 11 holes, but then sank back-to-back birdies on No. 16 & 17 and one more on No. 1 to finish under par.

Ty Hyatt was the fifth in the lineup for Central Oklahoma and the sophomore from Stillwater was still in the Top 30. He finished tied for 26th with a 6-over-par 222 for the tournament. Hyatt lowered his score by two strokes with each round, shooting a 4-over 76, 2-over 74, and finishing Tuesday with an even-par 72.

A couple of Bronchos played as individuals this week. Andrew Talburt finished 66th with a 229 (73-78-78) and Brock Jerman 78th with a 232 (80-75-77).

Central Oklahoma now moves on to the postseason and does so quickly. UCO will be in Jefferson City, Missouri next week for the MIAA Men's Golf Championships. The three-day 54-hole tournament is scheduled for April 13-15 at Jefferson City Country Club.

The NCAA Central/Midwest Region Championships are scheduled for May 7-9 in Big Rapids, Michigan. UCO has won two straight regionals and is the No. 1 ranked team in the latest NCAA Regional rankings.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Baylor Bostick: Junior

Nick Canales: Junior

Rhett Hughes: Sophomore

Ty Hyatt: Sophomore

Karsten Paciotti: Senior

Brock Jerman: Freshman

Andrew Talburt: Junior

Players Mentioned

Baylor Bostick
: Junior

Nick Canales
: Junior

Rhett Hughes
: Sophomore

Ty Hyatt
: Sophomore

Karsten Paciotti
: Senior

Brock Jerman
: Freshman

Andrew Talburt
: Junior