Palm Coast, Fla. – OUAZ men's and women's golf concluded play at the NCCAA National Championship held at The Conservatory at Hammock Beach Resort with both programs earning top-two finishes. The Spirit men successfully defended their national title, while the women secured a tie for second place against the championship field.
The OUAZ men finished the tournament tied for first before prevailing in a playoff to claim their second consecutive NCCAA National Championship. The women's squad finished tied for second out of six teams with a score of 958 (+94).
Men's Golf
The Spirit men's lineup showcased its depth throughout the championship, placing three golfers among the top six individually.
Corley McLernon finished tied for first at +6, narrowly missing the individual championship after falling in a playoff. Liam Toole earned a tie for third with a score of +9, while Jedd Thomas finished tied for sixth at +11.
Oliver Ruutu claimed 17th place with a score of +21, and Shashank Koirala rounded out the lineup in 32nd place at +36.
The Spirit's performance earned several postseason honors, with Corley McLernon, Liam Toole, and Jedd Thomas being named NCCAA All-Americans. Head Coach Brady Barrett was recognized as the NCCAA Coach of the Year following the championship run.
In the classroom, Corley McLernon, Liam Toole, and Nils Rose were honored as NCCAA Scholar-Athletes.
Women's Golf
The Spirit women produced another strong national championship performance, finishing tied for second in the team standings.
Leading the way was Alayna Lekkerkerk, who tied for fourth place with a score of +19. Macie Doherty added a tie for sixth finish at +21, giving OUAZ two golfers inside the top six.
Tanli Lemoyne finished 17th at +31, while Chiara Israng placed 19th with a score of +33. Fernanda Rodriguez rounded out the Spirit lineup, tying for 20th at +35.
Following their performance, Alayna Lekkerkerk and Macie Doherty were recognized as NCCAA All-Americans.
The Spirit women also excelled academically, as Macie Doherty, Chiara Israng, Jenney Kim Song, Jesi Odom, Halee Sager, and Anne Van Hemert earned NCCAA Scholar-Athlete honors.
Championship Success
The national championship capped off another outstanding performance for both programs. The men's team brought home OUAZ's second consecutive NCCAA National Championship trophy, while the women's team secured a podium finish and multiple individual honors. Combined, the two programs earned five All-America selections, nine Scholar-Athlete recognitions, and the NCCAA Coach of the Year award, highlighting the success of Spirit golf both on and off the course.
Up Next
The Spirit will return to competition on October 25 when the men's and women's teams travel to Seattle, Washington, to compete in the Battle at Bremerton. Following a successful showing at the NCCAA National Championship that included a national title for the men and a tied-for-second finish for the women, OUAZ will look to carry that momentum into one of its final events of the fall season.
