FORT SMITH, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech overtook Henderson State after 36 holes of the 2025 Great American Conference Men’s Golf Championships. The Wonder Boys posted the low round of the day at Hardscrabble Country Club, a 3-under par 277, to sit three shots ahead of the Reddies. Tech’s Landon Lawson carded a 3-under 67 to hold a one-shot lead in the individual race.
All five Wonder Boys produced rounds of 71 or better. Lawson collected four birdies against only one bogey. GAC Freshman of the Year Tobey Kim made four birdies over his final seven holes as part of a two-under 68. At even par, he finished in a three-way tie for fifth. Jacob Peetoom picked up two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 third hole as part of his 1-over round. Roby Cooper moved up seven spots following his 71 and Shaun Jones carded two birdies.
SECOND ROUND SUMMARY || FINAL ROUND TEE TIMES
The first-round leading Reddies shot 2-over 282. Philipp Pakosch registered the team’s low round of the day, a 1-under 69 that included an eagle on the par-4 18th hole.Ethan Wilkins made six birdies, including three straight on the front nine in an even-par round. He sits in a tie for third. Maxime Lam shot a 1-over 71 and Jacob Knowlton added a 2-over 72.
Southern Nazarene’s Josh Van Niekerk, the 18-hole leader, followed up his 3-under Monday round with an even-par 70 to close one shot back of Lawson. His round featured two front nine birdies.
Harding played the second-best round of the day, even-par 280 - 12 shots lower than round one. Christian Lindgreen’s 1-under 69 included four birdies to position him tied for third with Wilkins. GAC Player of the Year Jose Peralta and Dennis Staykov each improved by 10 shots from their first rounds. Peralta collected six birdies as part of an even-par round. Staykov notched three birdies against just one bogey for a 2-under 68. Jose Arzu carded his second straight 73.
Southern Arkansas maintained fourth position, followed by Arkansas-Monticello. SAU’s Blane Burk moved into the top 10 with a 1-under 69. He played his closing seven holes in 3-under, buoyed by an eagle on the par-5 third hole. Wil Griffin added four birdies as part of a round of 70. Will Blake rattled off four-straight birdies and shot a 71.
UAM’s Aidan Rooke produced the low round of the day, a 5-under 65, to tie the 18-hole GAC Championship record. He tallied four birdies and an eagle on the par-4 13th hole as he improved 18 shots from Monday and leapfrogged 21 players on the leaderboard. Landry Rogers shot 1-over 71 with three birdies to move up six positions.
Paced by Van Niekerk, the Crimson Storm passed Southwestern Oklahoma State for sixth. Dawson Dunlap matched Van Niekerk’s even-par round to climb inside the top 20. SWOSU’s Conrado Diaz Ermacora broke par with a 1-under 69 to finish the day in 11th.
Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southeastern Oklahoma State rounded out the team standings. Pierce Geminden equaled Lawson for the second-best round of the day. He registered seven birdies to climb from 20th to eighth. He became the first Ranger to break 70 in a GAC Championship round.
Wednesday’s final round tees off at 8 a.m. Play begins with Southwestern Oklahoma State, Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southeastern Oklahoma State in the first groups. Van Niekerk tees off at 9:12 a.m. in front of threesomes from Arkansas Tech, Henderson State Harding. Lawson goes off in the final group, at 9:52 a.m.