Quick 9: Atypical Trophies VIII
Spring 2025
One of the best things about college golf is the sheer number of tournaments hosted around the country each season. Each one has its own unique style and array of atypical trophies and awards. Some will make excellent additions to trophy cases while others will adorn practice facility walls. All of them tell a story.
Won’t you join me for a picturesque quick 9?
NOTE TO EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS: this post is best enjoyed by opening the Substack app or visiting the website version HERE
*NOTE: underlined text provides a link to references or sites with more information
1. HUNTSVILLE.ORG INTERCOLLEGIATE [Mar 3-4, 2025]
Held at the Robert Trent Jones Hampton Cove course in Huntsville, Alabama, this tournament has an appropriate trophy promoting a town known as the “Rocket City.” Troy managed to pull out the team win despite the incredible wind that sent the scores soaring. Samford sophomore Gabi Nicastro held on to earn her 4th win of the season.
2. CHRIS BANISTER GOLF CLASSIC [Mar 9-11, 2025]
Held at another Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course, this time at Silver Lakes in Gadsden, Alabama, Samford sophomore Gabi Nicastro makes it two in a row, earning her 5th win of the season. The Richmond Spiders perhaps didn’t weave their best web, but it proved good enough to capture the team trophy.
3. LINGER LONGER [Mar 16-18, 2025]
Georgia won the inaugural Linger Longer 19 years ago behind the T3 finish of senior Kevin Kisner. Georgia again won team title this year with a final round 268/-20 to overtake Alabama on their quest for a three-peat. South Florida’s Shubham Jaglan opened with an eight-under 64 and never looked back on his way to his first collegiate victory.
4. REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE INVITATIONAL [Feb 21-23, 2025]
Western Kentucky was the only team under par in the final round of the Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational, earning their first team win of the season and some plush hardware. Three of the Lady Tops finished 2-3-4 right behind medalist Charlotte Perkins. The Florida Atlantic sophomore birdied her final hole to capture her first collegiate title by a single stroke.
5. ARIZONA THUNDERBIRDS INTERCOLLEGIATE [Mar 17-18, 2025]
Host Arizona won the 45th annual Thunderbirds Intercollegiate despite a late surge from Long Beach State and Utah. Two of the Utes finished in the top 5 as Brandon Robison earns first career medalist honors by one over Max Schliesing [UTEP] and Filip Jakubcik [Arizona].
6. GENERAL HACKLER [Mar 16-18, 2025]
The Auburn Tigers take their second straight tournament by sweeping the General Hackler Championship. They jumped out to an early lead with a -10/278 and closed with an exceptional -19/269 for a 17 stroke victory. Four Tigers finished in the top 10, led by medalist Brendan Valdes who jumped three spots with his closing -7/65 to earn his third career victory by a single stroke over Duke’s Ethan Evans.
7. CHARLES SCHWAB WOMEN’S COLLEGIATE [Mar 24-25, 2025]
The Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate ended in dramatic fashion as might be expected when 10 of the top 20 teams in the country - and an entire field ranked inside the top 50! - get together at the prestigious Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, TX. Stanford charged from behind in the final 9 holes to keep their undefeated season alive by earning the team title by two strokes. The best round of the tournament belonged to Anna Davis [Auburn] who shot a final round -6/64 to eclipse Kiara Romero [Oregon] for medalist honors by a single stroke. This tournament could easily be a preview for the NCAA championship just over a month away.
8. HOOTIE INTERCOLLEGIATE AT BULLS BAY [Mar 23-25, 2025]
Speaking of exciting finishes at cool venues, the Hootie Intercollegiate at Bulls Bay featured a one-hole playoff between co-winners Purdue and South Carolina after SC flew up the leaderboard with a final round -18/270. The Boilermakers proved to be more pitch-perfect, however, earning them the guitar and bull hardware while the Gamecocks took the high hats. On the individual side, College of Charleston senior sensation Kieron Van Wyk backed up his recent PGA Tour T4 finish (Puerto Rico Open) with a two stroke collegiate victory, his second of the season (which came at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational in October and earned him the exemption into the Puerto Rico Open).
9. CLEMSON INVITATIONAL [Mar 28-30, 2025]
The Clemson Invitational finished in an unusual but historic way. Impending weather forced teams to play 27 holes on the second day and conclude the final 9 holes on Sunday morning. No matter the day, Ohio State was setting records. They set (and then matched) their team 18-hole scoring record with a second round -16/272 which helped set new 36-hole and 54-hole team records. The Buckeye’s -45/819 places them inside the top 10 in the women’s record book in both raw score and score to par. Ohio State was led by Kary Hollenbaugh who won for the third time this spring, finishing at -16/200. Surging up the leaderboard behind her was Kendall Todd and the Arkansas team. Todd shot an NCAA record-tying -11 round of 61 to lead the team in a final round -20/268 that also makes the NCAA records books as both Todd and Arkansas earned runner-up honors.
We will definitely be doing more posts on college golf trophies! Let me know what suggestions you have on trophies to highlight
War Eagle!!