NC State Men’s Golf Falls Short at ACC Championships, Ends 11th in Stroke Play
The NC State men’s golf team struggled to secure a spot in match play after finishing 11th at the ACC Championships held at Shark’s Tooth Golf Club in Panama City Beach, Florida. Despite a promising start, the Wolfpack fell short of the cut-off in a competitive field featuring five top-25 teams and 12 in the top 50.
NC State started strong, sitting tied for sixth at one-over-par after the first round, but the Pack faltered in the following rounds. Senior Evan Woosley-Reed stood out as the team’s top performer in round three, shooting an impressive four-under-par to finish tied for 22nd overall at two strokes over par.
Alongside Woosley-Reed, redshirt senior Markus Varjun also tied for 22nd place after an eagle in the first round’s 13th hole propelled his early momentum. Varjun, a transfer from Estonia, showed improvement after a slow start to the season, delivering solid play despite some ups and downs throughout the tournament.
Inconsistent Play Dooms Pack’s Hopes
Other key players struggled to maintain their early promise. Sophomore Xander Goboy started round one strong with six birdies and a two-under-par finish, but a disastrous round two and final round plummeted him to 62nd place – his worst finish since last October.
Redshirt sophomore Rylan Shim also battled inconsistency, registering five bogeys and a double bogey in round three to finish tied for 41st at six-over-par. Sophomore Pearce Lewin, a transfer from Tennessee, held steady with a 33rd place finish at one-over, though his former team also failed to make match play in its conference championship.
What’s Next for NC State Golf
The ACC Championships marked the end of conference play as NC State now waits for the NCAA regional fields to be announced. The 2026 NCAA Championship selection show will air live on the Golf Channel at 2 p.m. ET on May 6, when fans will learn where the Wolfpack will compete next.
The results at the ACC Championship highlight both the potential and inconsistency that NC State must address heading into the post-season. The team showed flashes of resilience and talent but ultimately was undone by uneven performances on the course.
With top competition from across the nation, the Wolfpack’s finish outside the top 10 is a disappointing but realistic reflection of their current standing. Yet, with top individual performances still emerging, all eyes remain on NC State’s next opportunity to prove itself in the NCAA regionals.
“Evan Woosley-Reed’s final round showed the strength and potential within our squad,” said a team spokesperson. “We know what to build on as we look toward the NCAA regionals.”
As the golf world turns to the NCAA selection announcement next week, NC State will regroup and prepare to compete fiercely for a chance at the national title. Fans and followers across Colorado and the US can expect an exciting continuation of this season’s story soon.
