North Georgia’s Hunter Smith captured the 2025 NCAA Division II individual national title with a final score of 6-under-par after three rounds of stroke play at PGA National. Smith posted rounds of 71, 67, and an even-par 72 to finish one stroke ahead of five players tied at 5-under. His consistent ball-striking and composed final round were enough to edge out a tightly packed leaderboard and secure the biggest individual win of his collegiate career.
Colorado Christian’s Adam Duncan, ranked No. 1 in Division II and selected to this year’s Palmer Cup team, entered as one of the favorites and finished tied for 11th at 2-under. Though he came up short of the individual crown, Duncan played a key role in leading his team to the top of the leaderboard.
The Cougars, who have been dominant throughout the regular season and entered nationals as the No. 1-ranked team, delivered a statement performance in stroke play. Their 8-under team total included a final-round 280 and solidified them as the top seed heading into medal match play.
Perhaps the most dramatic shift came from Oklahoma Christian, which vaulted five spots on the final day thanks to a scorching 6-under team round. That surge moved the Eagles from outside the cut line into the eighth and final match-play position at 11-over-par.
The eight teams advancing to medal match play are: Colorado Christian, West Florida, Missouri S&T, Florida Southern, North Georgia, Wingate, St. Mary’s (TX), and Oklahoma Christian. With stroke play complete, the chase for the national title now shifts to head-to-head matchups that promise even more drama.
Day 2 Recap
The 2025 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship has reached the halfway point of stroke play at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. After 36 of the scheduled 54 holes, Missouri S&T has emerged as the surprise leader at 7-under-par. The 18th-seeded Miners opened with a steady even-par 289, then caught fire in Round 2 with a tournament-shifting 8-under 280 to take a three-shot lead heading into the final day of stroke play.
Tied for second at 4-under are West Florida and St. Mary’s (TX). St. Mary’s recorded the lowest round of the championship so far with a 9-under 279 to start, but gave back ground with a 293 in Round 2. West Florida followed a 2-over opening round with a strong 6-under 282 to climb the board. Defending national champion and top-ranked Colorado Christian sits in solo fourth at even-par after bouncing back from a 3-over start with a 3-under second round.
Wingate (+2) and Florida Southern (+4) round out the top six, while North Georgia (+5) sits just outside. The projected match play cut currently sits at 9-over, where Lincoln Memorial and Central Oklahoma are tied in eighth. With only one round of stroke play remaining before the field is trimmed to eight teams for match play, the stakes will be high on Wednesday. Missouri S&T has played their way into the spotlight, but with a deep and experienced field chasing, the final 18 holes promise to bring even more drama.
After two rounds at PGA National Resort, the individual race is heating up with a tie at the top. Colton Swartz of Florida Southern and Hunter Smith of North Georgia are co-leaders at 6-under-par, each showcasing consistency and low scoring across the first two days. Swartz opened with a 5-under 67 before carding a 1-under 71 in Round 2. Smith reversed the script, following up an opening 71 with a field-best 67 in the second round.
Just one shot behind is Lewis Beeden of Wingate at 5-under after posting rounds of 70 and 69. A trio of players is tied at 4-under: Baptiste Touchard and Guillaume Paquette, both from St. Mary’s (TX), and Eddie Lee of West Florida. Touchard fired a 68 in Round 1 and held steady with an even-par 72 in Round 2, while Paquette shot 69–71 to stay firmly in contention. Lee surged with a 68 in Round 2 after an even-par opener.
Carlos Fernandez-Mortera of Charleston sits solo seventh at 3-under, followed by a three-way tie at 2-under that includes Adam Duncan (Colorado Christian), Drew Zielinski (Lee), and Nicolas Eroles Estrada (Missouri S&T). Five more players are tied at 1-under, including Missouri S&T’s Rizq Adam Rohizam and Columbus State’s Pate Stansell, keeping the top of the leaderboard crowded heading into the final round of stroke play.
With 18 holes to go before the individual champion is crowned, the competition remains wide open. The top six players are separated by just two shots, setting up a thrilling finish on Wednesday in Palm Beach Gardens.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL (May 19–23, 2025) — The 2025 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship has arrived, bringing together the top collegiate players and teams from across the country for a five-day competition at the famed PGA National Resort.
Eighty teams and thirty-two individuals began the journey at regional qualifiers, with only the best advancing to Florida for a shot at the national title.
Teams Advancing from Regionals
Atlantic/East Regional
Site Champions: Davis & Elkins, Gannon
Additional Qualifier: Charleston (WV)
Individuals:
- Nolan Skaggs (St. Thomas Aquinas)
- Johnny Solari (Adelphi)
Central/Midwest Regional
Site Champion: Central Oklahoma
Additional Qualifiers: Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri S&T, Central Missouri
Individuals:
- Marco Anderson (Washburn)
- Yadhu Urs (Ohio Dominican)
South/Southeast Regional
Site Champion: North Georgia
Additional Qualifiers: Wingate, West Florida, Columbus State, Lee, Lincoln Memorial, Florida Southern
Individuals:
- Asmund Norum (King TN)
- Felipe Gomez (Georgia Southwestern)
South Central/West Regional
Site Champion: Colorado Christian
Additional Qualifiers: Oklahoma Christian, Cal State East Bay, St. Mary’s (TX), Cal State San Bernardino, West Texas A&M
Individuals:
- Agustin Pizzorno (CSU Pueblo)
- Cambron Nevill (Sonoma State)
Championship History (2015–2024)
| Year | Champion | Coach | Score | Runner-up | Score | Host Site |
|---|
| 2024 | Colorado Christian | Mark Hull | 3–2 | North Georgia | — | Winter Garden, FL |
| 2023 | Nova Southeastern | Joey Marino | 3–2 | Oklahoma Christian | — | Warren, OH |
| 2022 | Lee | John Maupin | 4–1 | Oklahoma Christian | — | Detroit, MI |
| 2021 | Arkansas Tech | Luke Calcatera | 3–2 | Georgia Southwestern | — | Palm Beach Gardens, FL |
| 2020 | Canceled due to COVID-19 |
| 2019 | Lynn | Andy Walker | 3–2 | Lincoln Memorial | — | Daniels, WV |
| 2018 | Lynn | Andrew Danna | 3–2 | West Florida | — | Muscle Shoals, AL |
| 2017 | Florida Southern | Doug Gordin | 3–2 | Lynn | — | Kissimmee, FL |
| 2016 | Saint Leo | Chris Greenwood | 3–2 | Chico State | — | Metro State |
| 2015 | Nova Southeastern | Ryan Jamison | 3–2 | Lynn | — | Conover, NC |