Sam Houston men’s golf team battles through tough weather to earn first CUSA Championship and NCAA Regional berth.
TEXARKANA, Ark. – The Sam Houston men’s golf team claimed the 2025 Conference USA Championship at Texarkana Country Club after fighting through rainy conditions and tough competition on Thursday.
The Bearkats had surged to the No. 2 seed in match play by shooting 9-under par in the three rounds of stroke play. Sam Houston earned a berth in the afternoon championship match against the Miners after taking down No. 3 seed Kennesaw State.
The Kats were able to fend off the Owls by a 3-2 margin with two matches going into extra holes. Bret Gray ran away with match 4 and never looked back going 8&6. Gene Chaikangwal won 1-up after two playoff holes. Josh German and Hugo Trommetter fell in their matches, leaving the pressure on Ethan Dufresne who won in dramatic playoff fashion after being tied through 18.
The Miners, who finished 2-under par in stroke play, reached the title tilt by taking down top-seeded Liberty by a 3-2 margin after a playoff hole.
The Bearkats came in hot, going up 4-1 after the front nine with Chaikangwal and Dufresne being 3-up in their matches against the Miners. The tough course got even harder after a mid-round weather delay left the fairways soft and the greens slow.
Despite the weather, the Kats were able to battle through, winning by a 3.5-1.5 margin.
Dufresne was the first to win, taking match 5 at 3&2. Trommetter won 1-up in match 1 after a three-hole playoff, and German fell in match 3 at 3&1. Gray ended match 2 in a tie and was about to head into a playoff, but not before Chaikangwal was able to bring the last win home for the Bearkats at 3&2.
With the win, the Bearkats secured their first CUSA Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional. The NCAA reveals the regional field on April 30 at noon on the Golf Channel.
