Men's Golf 9/29/2026 4:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Nick Canales Wins Holiday Inn Express Invitational

UCO Finished Second In Team Standings

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Central Oklahoma senior Nick Canales won the individual title at Missouri Western's Holiday Inn Express Invitational Tuesday and led the Bronchos to a second-place finish in the team standings.

Central Missouri won the team event with a 54-hole score of 840. The Bronchos shot an 844 (287-277-280) to finish second. Washburn (849), Iowa Western (856), and host Missouri Western (859) rounded out the top five.

Canales won his first tournament of the season with a 7-under-par 203 on the week. He started Monday with a 1-under 69 and shot a 5-under 65 in the afternoon to take command. On Tuesday, the senior finished off his fifth career win with another 1-under 69.

UCO also got a fifth-place finish from Rhett Hughes, who shot an even-par 210. Hughes fired rounds of 70 and 68 on Monday, then shot a 2-over 72 in Tuesday's final round.

Freshman William Whorton charged up the leaderboard on Tuesday and finished 15th with a 4-over 214. Whorton shot back-to-back 2-over-par 72s on Monday, then recorded an even-par 70 on Tuesday.

John Helzer shot a 9-over-par 219 in his first career tournament. The freshman posted rounds of 77, 72, and 70. Ty Hyatt was two shots back at 221, posting rounds of 76, 74, and 71. Jack Ensey competed this week as an individual and shot a 228 (76-77-75).

Canales started off strong in his final round Tuesday morning. He sank back-to-back birdies on No. 2 & 3, then another on No. 6 to get to 3-under par. He was still there before hitting a snag on the back nine. Canales bogeyed No. 12, doubled No. 14, and bogeyed No. 15 to dip to 1-over for the day.

But the senior wasn't rattled. He settled in with a par on No. 16 and then sank back-to-back birdies on the final two holes to get to 1-under for the day and secure his title. Canales moved to No. 4 on Central Oklahoma's all-time wins list.

Central Oklahoma is back on the course next week with its home event, the Skip Wagnon Invitational at KickingBird Golf Club sponsored by Visit Edmond Oct. 5-6.

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Players Mentioned

Nick Canales: Senior

Rhett Hughes: Junior

Ty Hyatt: Junior

Jack Ensey: Freshman

John Helzer: Freshman

William Whorton: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nick Canales
: Senior

Rhett Hughes
: Junior

Ty Hyatt
: Junior

Jack Ensey
: Freshman

John Helzer
: Freshman

William Whorton
: Freshman