Becker, MN -- North Central University (NCU) men's golf traveled to Becker, MN, to compete in this year's Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Championship Meet. The Rams looked to defend their 2024 UMAC Men's Golf Championship title, a feat that hadn't been accomplished since 2012. The Rams posted a team score of 648 (+84) throughout the three-day event, finishing 4th overall as a squad. Freshman standout Kaden Dunton earned a top-10 finish individually to close out his stellar rookie fall campaign.
 
North Central opened the championship with a steady round of 321 at Pebble Creek Golf Club. Leading the way for the Rams was freshman Kaden Dunton, who carded a composed 76 (+4) to sit tied for 6th overall after day one. Junior Joe Stanton followed closely behind with a 78 (+6), while sophomore Hector Avila added an 82 (+10) to keep NCU competitive in the team standings. Sophomore Greg Salinas shot 85 (+13), and junior Ashton Stansfield rounded out the scoring with a 92 (+20). The Rams ended the day in fourth place overall with some ground to make up in order to enter the top three. 

The Rams regrouped for a strong second round, improving their team score by seven strokes with a 314. Dunton once again paced the lineup, posting a sharp 74 (+2) to climb into the top five individually midway through the championship. Salinas bounced back with a solid 77 (+5), marking one of his better rounds as of late. Stanton and Avila stayed consistent with rounds of 80 (+8) and 83 (+11), respectively, while Stansfield added an 88 (+16). North Central's performance kept them in fourth place as a team. 

On championship Saturday, the Rams closed their fall campaign with another steady showing, carding a 313 for their best round of the weekend. Avila was the story of the day, firing a season-best 73 (+1) to cap his sophomore season on a high note. Stanton recorded a 79 (+7) to finish 12th individually, while Salinas matched his consistency with another 79 (+7). Dunton posted an 82 (+10) to wrap up a three-day total of 232 (+16), good for a tie for 7th place in a field of 34 golfers. Stansfield added a 95 (+23) to round out the team's final tally. The Rams secured a 4th-place team finish overall with a three-round score of 648 (+84).

Individual Scores:

Name	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Total	+/-	Pos.
Kaden Dunton	76	74	82	232	+16	t-7th
Joe Stanton	78	80	79	237	+21	12th
Hector Avila	82	83	73	238	+22	13th
Greg Salinas	85	77	79	241	+25	t-17th
Ashton Stansfield	92	88	95	275	+59	34th
Team	321	314	313	648	+84	4th

*34 total golfers | 7 total teams

Looking Ahead:

Men's Golf wraps up competition for the fall season and will look to continue to improve in the spring when they hit the courses once again.

As always, all fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on men's golf and all things NCU Athletics.