Semifinal Results | Championship Results | Photos

TEXARKANA, Ark. – Despite a slight suspension due to inclement weather, No. 2 Sam Houston won the 2025 Conference USA Championship on Thursday, defeating No. 4 UTEP. After today, the Bearkats earn CUSA’s automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Championships.  

In each of the five matches, UTEP fell behind Sam Houston early in the round. With few holes remaining, the Miners were able to close the gap and tied the score 2.5-2.5 after catching up to the Bearkats. By the last six holes, SHSU had regained the lead at 3.5-1.5, just moments before play was halted by a weather delay.

The Bearkats picked up right where they left off while resuming the tournament. Sam Houston captured two out of four matches to start. With one match remaining to win, SHSU’s Gene Chaikangwal sunk the tournament-winning shot on hole 16, 3&2.

Earlier today, both semifinal matchups concluded in a 2-2 tie, leaving each team just one win away from securing a spot in the championship final. No. 2 Sam Houston’s Ethan Dufresne and No. 3 Kennesaw State’s Shaun Cook remained deadlocked from holes 14 through 18, forcing a playoff to determine the winner. In a tense finish, Dufresne edged out Cook 3-4, clinching the victory and sending the Bearkats to the championship final.

No. 4 UTEP and defending conference champions No. 1 Liberty battled to the wire, with the match resting on the final pairing between UTEP’s Max Schliesing and Liberty’s Ike Joy. The duo remained tied for seven straight holes, extending the game to a playoff. Schliesing sealed the match with a clutch birdie, propelling the Miners into the conference finals.

The 2025 NCAA DI Men’s Golf Selection Show will be on the GOLF Channel on Wednesday, April 30 at 12 p.m. CT.