Nighthawks dominant in regional title victory

The University of North Georgia (UNG) men's golf team left no doubt in claiming back-to-back NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional titles. Buoyed by the second-best 54-hole score in program history at 28-under-par from May 8-10, the Nighthawks finished 24 strokes clear of the field at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

With the decisive triumph, UNG advanced to the 2025 NCAA Division II national championship May 19-23 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Nighthawks are aiming for a national title a year after finishing as national runner-up.

UNG's dominant performance came against the toughest regional field in the country as 15 of the Golf Coaches Association of America's top 25 teams competed at Mission Inn Resort.

"It's the toughest regional in the country. You kind of feel like you're playing with house money going into the national championship. That's the fun part," UNG head coach Bryson Worley said. "The grueling test is this thing every year. We're looking forward to going down to Palm Beach Gardens and seeing what we can get into." 

With 5-under-par 67 May 10 in the final round of the regional, graduate student Jack Vajda claimed individual medalist honors in the South/Southeast Regional for the second straight year. Vajda finished the tournament at 10-under-par and in a tie for first place with Wingate University's Brandon Skidmore. 

In a two-person playoff, Vajda made quick work of Skidmore by sticking his approach shot one foot from the pin on the first playoff hole before tapping in the birdie for his third victory this season. 

Vajda, a Canton, Georgia, native, was below par in all three rounds of the tournament with scores of 71, 68 and 67 over the three-day regional. 

"He's such a good player. He's so mature," Worley said. "He's just so even-keeled. Nothing really bothers him."

Vajda set the tone for the rest of the Nighthawks to have a big week right by his side. All five UNG golfers finished in the top 13 or better, marking the first time this season the team has accomplished such a feat. 

Senior Hughes Threlkeld shot a 2-under 70 with three birdies on the back nine May 10 to finish in seventh place for his third top-10 showing this year. Rounding out the scoring for UNG were senior Ethan Day, junior Hunter Smith and sophomore Colby Bennett, all three of which landed in a six-way tie for 13th place at 2-under for the tournament.

UNG put the college golf world on notice, particularly in a second round 15-under-par tally that included all four scoring golfers shooting 69 or better.

"We talked about focus and how important it was. Sometimes you can try too hard, and you just have to free yourself up and just know that you're good enough," Worley said.

"We're not done. That wasn't a peak for us," Campbell said. "I'm really excited to see what the future looks like. And what a blessing to have something that's so hard to say goodbye to."