Men's Golf 9/14/2026 8:41:00 PM Chris Brannick

Nick Canales Leads The Field At Regional Preview

UCO Is Third In The Team Standings After 36 Holes In Michigan

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Nick Canales leads the field and Central Oklahoma is third in the team standings following the first two trips around Meadows Golf Club Monday at the Regional Preview.

Wayne State leads the team race with a 36-hole 575 (283-292). Host Grand Valley State (290-288) is three shots back and Central Oklahoma is four shots back after rounds of 290 and 289 on Monday. Saginaw Valley (580) and Ashland (583) round out the jumbled top five.

"We weren't very consistent today," UCO head men's golf coach Derrick Thompson said. "But we did enough to stay in contention. If we can clean it up tomorrow, we'll have a chance. Nick played really well and we're hopeful he can continue that tomorrow too."

Canales opened his day with a 1-under-par 70 and followed it up with a 3-under-par 68 in the afternoon round. The senior has a one-shot lead over Washburn's Myles Tarvin (69-70) and Saginaw Valley's Evan Klein (73-66).

UCO freshman Will Whorton is tied for sixth with an even-par 142 after back-to-back rounds of 71. Whorton won his collegiate debut last week one shot better than the runner up, Canales.

Bryant Polhill posted a 150 with rounds of 73 and 77. Ty Hyatt shot a 151 on Monday with rounds of 78 and 73. And Rhett Hughes posted a 164 (76-88).

Canales started his day with a par and was 2-over after three holes, but the three-time All-American settled in with a birdie on the Par 5 fourth. He made five straight par putts before a second birdie on the Par 4 10th. After two more bogeys on 11 & 13, Canales then sank three consecutive birdies to get to 1-under par. He made par putts on the final two holes to finish his opening round with a 70.

In the second round it was a hot start that set the tone. Canales birdied the first two holes and was 3-under after four. He played 5-8 1-over, but a birdie on the Par 5 ninth put him back at 3-under making the turn. Canales' second round back nine included three birdies (12, 14, 15), three pars (10, 16, 17), and three bogeys (11, 13, 18) to finish the day with a 68.

Whorton started on No. 2 and bogeyed the opening hole but he got back to even with a birdie on No. 4. He repeated the bogey-birdie two step on 8 & 9 to make the turn at even par. He did the same on 13 & 16 to go with seven back-nine par putts to card an even 71.

In his second round, Whorton continued the trend. A bogey-birdie on 7 & 8 with and then a birdie on 11 and a bogey on 16 balanced out the 14 par putts that gave him a second even-par 71 on the day.

Central Oklahoma will play the third and final round on Tuesday morning. Grand Valley State is hosting the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional Championship in May at Meadows Golf Club.

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Players Mentioned

Nick Canales: Junior

Rhett Hughes: Sophomore

Ty Hyatt: Sophomore

Bryant Polhill: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Nick Canales
: Junior

Rhett Hughes
: Sophomore

Ty Hyatt
: Sophomore

Bryant Polhill
: Sophomore