Team Standings | Player Leaderboard

MARICOPA, Ariz. - Several Rhode Island golfers made key shots down the stretch to help the Rams finish in third place at the 2026 National Golf Invitational Sunday afternoon at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.

A rough front nine caused Rhody to dip to as low as fifth place in the team standings, but URI fought its way back into the top three. With the team score getting to plus-five midway through the round, the Rams fought their way back to one-over as a team, good enough to claim sole possession of third place overall.

Senior Aidan O'Donovan - who shot a team-low one-under 71 in the final round - was the lone Ram to be under par. Through the first nine holes he was three-under par thanks to an eagle on the third hole plus two birdies, he was sitting at three-under par midway through the round. He finished the tournament tied for 24th overall.

"I thought Aidan did what he's done all year for us," Rhode Island head coach Gregg Burke said. "He was the undeniable force in the number three spot and was Mr. Consistent in using his golf ball in our scoring for all but one or two rounds all year. He didn't have the tournament he would've liked, but he never let it get away from him. The boys on this team and on previous teams have done well to be associated with Aidan. And they will do even better if they stay in touch with him and learn from him for the rest of their lives."

Junior Josiah Tong was the team's top finisher on the leader board. After shooting four-over on the front nine, he settled in nicely down the stretch. Tong sank four birdies on the back nine to make up a few strokes. He worked his way back to one-over for the round and was Rhode Island's top individual finisher for the tournament, tying for sixth place in the 50-player field.

"Josiah has emerged as a legitimate threat to win any tournament in which he plays," Burke said. "His personal and physical growth have been a marvel to watch. And now his golf is catching up with all the work he's put into this. I have to give hats off to Tony as well. His final two rounds were pretty darn solid."

Junior Tony Liu and sophomore Luke Stennett shot even par on Sunday. Liu had the fastest start of the day, sinking birdies on his first three holes. A triple bogey on hole 10 followed immediately by a bogey was a setback, but Liu showed his mettle. He was four-under par in a four-hole stretch from holes 13-16, carding an eagle and two birdies. His play during the span spurred Rhody back into third place in the 10-team field.

"Today was a for a microcosm of our Spring season," Burke said. "These past three days proved us to be a very special golf team capable of playing on the national stage as we did in three or four tournaments since January. But we also showed a lack of focus and a lack of toughness that plagued us this semester. In the end, when we were five over and tied for fifth place, Tony and Josiah put us on their backs and were three red each in the final 12 holes to secure third place for the team.

"We have not yet begun to see the best of Luke Stennett. As he learns how to play the game and navigate a golf course, his immeasurable talent will make him a pro."

Sophomore Tyler Bruneau struggled on the final day. Though he did not factor in the team score in the final round, he did finish in the top half of the field overall, finishing in a tie for 24th place.

"To tell the truth, Tyler really struggled from the time he was eight under after 17 holes," Burke said. "One thing about that kid is that he won't give up, and he did a lot just to finish the way he did the final two rounds.

"It's not the time to talk about the future, but I can say with ultimate conviction that we will be tougher, more focused, and better next year." 

Grand Canyon took the team title, finishing well ahead of the field. The Antelopes were 52-under par for the tournament and 14 strokes ahead of second-place Missouri (minus-38). Rhode Island (minus-27) edged Nevada (minus-26) and Wyoming (minus-25) to claim third place. Wyoming's Brody Leid and Grand Canyon's Nixon Lauritzen were tied atop the individual leader board at minus-18 after three rounds. Lauritzen took medalist honors in a playoff and earned an exemption into the PGA Tour's Butterfield Bermuda Championship next October.   

National Golf Invitational
Team Standings
1. Grand Canyon - 271-268-273=812
2. Missouri - 270-277-279=826
3. Rhode Island - 274-274-289=837
4. Nevada - 274-288-276=838
5. Wyoming - 285-270-284=839
6. Mercer - 280-278- =558
7. William and Mary - 284-270- =554
8. Tennessee Tech - 288-282-281=851
9. North Alabama - 292-289-282=863
10. Augusta - 291-286-290=867