KOHLER, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- Aurora University shot even-par as a team Monday at Blackwolf Run to put the finishing touches on a 10th consecutive Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Men's Golf Championship.
After blustery conditions during the first two rounds, sunny skies and 80-degree temperatures greeted competitors during the final round on the par-72, 6,670-yard Meadow Valleys track. The Spartans carded six scores of 75 or better, led by a 3-under-par 69 from Caleb Negley. Negley posted four birdies and an eagle in his final round. Brandon Burggraf added an even-par 72, Matthias Morris shot a 1-over 73, Kashton Wilson and Clay Heilman added 2-over 74s, and Trenton Kurtz rounded out the Aurora contingent with a 3-over 75.
Aurora (303-296-288) finished with an 887 total, 36 shots clear of runner-up St. Norbert College (313-311-299--923). Milwaukee School of Engineering and Wisconsin Lutheran College tied for third place with 929 totals, but arrived at the totals in drastically different ways. The Raiders were relatively consistent with rounds of 311, 314, and 304, while the Warriors rebounded from an opening round 325 to finish with rounds of 308 and 296.
Edgewood University (321-321-310) finished fifth at 952, while Lakeland University (326-326-314--966) edged Marian University (335-324-309--968) for sixth place by just two strokes. Concordia University Wisconsin (339-330-325--994) placed eighth and Benedictine University (353-326-332--1,011) finished ninth.
Individually, five players posted rounds of par or better Monday compared to just one combined during the first two rounds.
Wisconsin Lutheran's Alexander Buckoski posted five birdies en route to a 2-under 70, and took medalist honors by one stroke over Negley. Buckoski was consistent all weekend with rounds of 73, 74, and 70 for a 1-over 217 total. He is the third WLC men's golfer to earn NAC/NACC medalist honors after Daniel Behm (Fall 2007) and Jacob Mortell (2015-16).
Negley rebounded well after an opening-round 79, carding a 70 and a 69 to finish second with a 2-over 218 total. With Buckoski already in the clubhouse, Negley had a chance to force a medalist playoff, but his birdie putt on the final hole came up just short.
Aurora's Mattias Morris (75-75-73) and Brandon Burggraf (75-76-72) tied for third place overall with matching 223 totals, while MSOE's Charlie Larson (74-76-79--229) finished fifth, one shot clear of the trio of Aurora's Kashton Wilson (76-80-74--230), MSOE's Preston Filter (77-78-75--230), and St. Norbert's Dawson Fish (80-74-76--230).
WLC's Isaiah Schaser (81-78-72--231) finished ninth, while Aurora's Clay Heilman (83-75-74--232) and Trenton Kurtz (77-80-75--232) tied for 10th to round out the all-NACC honorees.
St. Norbert's Ryan Gearen was the big mover on the final day, carding a 70 on the strength of seven birdies to jump 20 spots and finish tied for 16th overall with a 237 total.
Another highlight of the day came from WLC's Brycen Tanzi, who aced the par-3 No. 3 hole. It was the second consecutive year that a WLC golfer aced the No. 3 hole in the final round of the championships (Luka Stojadinovic).
Filter, Wilson Share Freshman of the Year Honors
In addition to tying for sixth place in the medalist standings, MSOE's Preston Filter and Aurora's Kashton Wilson were named co-recipients of this year's NACC Freshman of the Year honor.
Filter is the second consecutive MSOE golfer - and third overall - to earn Freshman of the Year honors (Charlie Larson, 2025; Frank Roucek, 2007).
Wilson is the sixth Spartan to earn Freshman of the Year honors.
Aurora Named Coaching Staff of the Year
Aurora head coach Justin Wyeth and assistant coach Craig Schlegel were recognized by their peers as the 2026 NACC Men's Golf Coaching Staff of the Year. It is the 10th consecutive season that Wyeth or a Wyeth-led staff has won or shared the honor.
With the victory, the Spartans receive the NACC's automatic berth in the 2027 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships next May at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.