ERIE, Pa. – Davis & Elkins College captured the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional Men's Golf Championship in dramatic fashion on Tuesday at Whispering Woods Golf Club, edging out host Gannon University in a tie-breaker to earn the program's second regional title in the last 5 years, last winning it in 2023.
"This young team showed lots of growth throughout the year," said Head Coach Patrick Smith. "I'm so proud of them for their performance this week. I'm thrilled that this team comprised of freshman and sophomores could accomplish such an incredible feat. We are looking forward to representing D&E on the national stage for the fifth year in a row."
The Senators and Gannon both finished the 54-hole tournament with matching team scores of 887 (+23). With the championship on the line, the NCAA tie-breaking procedure came into play—using the aggregate total of each team's fifth player. D&E's Isaac Gregson (+18) beat out Gannon's No. 5 scorer by a wide margin, securing the victory for the Senators.
Leading the charge was freshman Aidan Talent, who delivered a composed and consistent performance en route to the individual championship. The Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year finished at 3-under-par (68-73-72), the only player on the team to break par across three rounds. Talent was named the tournament MVP for his stellar performance.
Senior Elias Jarn also posted a strong tournament, closing with a 1-under 71 in the final round to finish tied for fourth at +3 overall (74-74-71). Zak Collins (+12), Lucio Pavicich (+14), and Gregson (+18) rounded out the scoring for the Senators, who demonstrated depth and consistency throughout the event.
"We played well on day 1," said Smith. "Aidan's -4 round was the best round of the first day. On day 2 we didn't have our best stuff, but we still managed to post an okay number. The final round we got off to a good start. We took advantage of the opportunities on the golf course and finished up with a regional championship!"
With the regional championship secured, Davis & Elkins advances to the NCAA Division II National Championship, scheduled for May 19-23 at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
The victory caps another milestone season for the Senators, who took second place in each of the fall and spring MEC Championships, and now continue their postseason journey on the national stage for the fifth straight year.
