NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio - The Bethany College men's golf team earned its first tournament win of the 2025-26 season as All-Presidents' Athletic Conference junior Jude Smith (Weirton, W.Va./Weir) claimed the top spot at the Golden Eagle Invitational hosted by Kent State University-Tuscarawas (Ohio) at the Oak Shadows Golf Club.

The Bison traveled all 12 players and fielded two teams among the six-team Invitational with two members of the Green and White finishing in the Top-5: Smith and freshman Jacob Bursey (Winchester, Va./James Woods). The Bethany A Team finished first with a four-player round of 307 (+19) to mark the lowest team score and the second tournament win in the tenure of head coach Kailey Pettit. The Bethany B team also competed and placed fifth with a team score of 337 (+49). The host Kent State-Tusc shot 321 to finish second while Geneva (Pa.) College finished third with a score of 327. 

Smith's round of 68 (-4) on the course was a new career best, marks the best performance by any Bison golfer since the reinstatement of the golf program in 2017, and is one of the greatest rounds in program history. His condor on the day included an Invitational-best six birdies with four coming in the front nine leading Smith to both his first individual tournament win and Bethany to its first win of the 2025-25 campaign.

Bursey had a debut to remember after finishing fifth overall in his first tournament by shooting a 77 (+5) and helping lead the Bison to a victory. The first-year notched a par on 13 of his first-career 18 holes.

Wrapping up the team score for Bethany A was freshman Brayden Roberts (Franklin, Ky./Franklin-Simpson) and junior Payton Hildebrand (Wellsburg, W.Va./Wheeling Central Catholic). Roberts made his collegiate debut by shooting a round of 80 (+8) including one birdie and an eagle on the sixth hole while Hildebrand followed just behind with a score of 82 (+10). 

Freshman Ian Longo (Winchester, Va./James Woods) was the third Bison freshman to fire an 80 or better in his first ever tournament with a 78 (+6) including 11 pars and a birdie on the final hole to lead Bethany B.

Next for Bethany B were sophomores Nash Hays (Heath, Ohio) and Cooper Poe (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) who each penciled in an 85 (+13). 

Rounding out the Bethany B team score was graduate Troy Hixson (Grove City, Ohio/Bishop Ready) who fired a season-best 89 (+17).

Among the Bison who competed individually were junior Samuel Phillips (Charleston, W.Va./Herbert Hoover) with an 83 (+11), sophomore Colby Vega (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glenn) with an 88 (+16), Caleb Mouton (Denham Springs, La./Walker) with a 97 (+25), and sophomore Lincoln Pablo (Tulalip, Wash./Heritage) with a 99 (+27).

The Bison are back in action on Monday, September 22 as they travel to Allison Park, Pennsylvania to compete at the La Roche Invitational hosted by La Roche (Pa.) University at the Wildwood Golf Club.