Owls surge to third, remain in NCAA title hunt

5/14/2026 6:50:00 PM

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. -- The Kenyon College Owls put up a team total of four-under-par 284 Thursday and moved into third place at the conclusion of the third round of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship, being held at Mission Inn Resort.

The Owls' 284 was the second-best total of the day and it put the Kenyon team at one-over-par for the Championship, just six stokes off the lead with one more round to be played.

Going into that final round, Illinois Wesleyan University owns first place at five-under-par. Washington and Lee University's final golfer on the course Thursday birdied to move the Generals to second place at even par, just one stroke better than Kenyon. Aurora University and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps are tied for fourth place, one shot shy of the Owls.

Kenyon's low-man Thursday was sophomore Connor Gray, who played better as the day went on. He went out with a one-over-par score of 36 on the front and came in with a four-under-par score of 33 on the back, giving him a three-under 69 for the round and moving him into a tie for 24th place on the individual leaderboard.

Adrian Jordan, also a sophomore, climbed back up to the top spot in the tournament. His Thursday round finished at a two-under-par 70, giving him a three-round total that sits at seven-under-par, putting him in a three-way tie for first place heading toward the final day of play. Jordan recorded five birdies and three bogies, while shooting one-under on each nine.

Junior Jonathan Oakes contributed a one-under-par 71 for the Owls. He started his day with an eagle on the first hole, but followed with four bogeys over the next eight holes. When he got to the back nine, he straightened things out by carding three birdies and six pars. He's now at seven-over for the Championship and sits in a tie for 55th place.

Jaiden Koonar, another Kenyon junior, put together a steady round with three birdies and three bogeys. He was at even par going into the final hole, which he doubled and moved his final score to a two-over-par 74. With three rounds in the books, he sits tied for 42nd individually at five-over par.

Thursday's round was played on the El Campeon Course, which will host Friday's final round as well.

Kenyon has appeared in seven NCAA Championships dating back to 1950 and has a best finish of eighth place, which was recorded in the 2024 season.

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