UNCW, Rico Capture 2026 CAA Men’s Golf Championship
Dylan Smith
RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY
ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. – Senior
James Rico and the UNCW Seahawks swept the individual and team titles with record-breaking performances at the 2026 CAA Men’s Golf Championship at Dataw Island Golf Club in St. Helena Island, S.C., on Tuesday.
The Seahawks earned their ninth conference crown after setting the CAA benchmark for the best three-round score at 38-under 826. Their team total snapped the previous mark by three strokes, set by Charleston (-35) in 2024 at Dataw Island. UNCW also smashed the single-round team record with a blistering 20-under 268 to close out the tournament.
Rico became just the eighth Seahawk to take home medalist honors following an impressive three rounds in South Carolina. The Cary, N.C., product also etched his name in the CAA record book with a tournament benchmark of 14-under 202. Rico capped off his medalist run with his second 6-under 66 of the championship, sinking par or better on 52 of his 54 holes.
Teammates
John Logan and
Preston Worch helped seal the Seahawks’ victory on Tuesday as they both matched Rico with a 6-under 66 in the final round. Logan earned a third-place finish at 7-under 209 and was joined by
Gray Mitchum (-6) on the All-Tournament Team.
Ethan Boyette finished tied with Worch in 13
th place at 2-under 214.
Elon fought to the bitter end with a 21-under 843 as a group, led by All-Tournament Team selection
Dylan Lewis. The freshman finished tied for fourth with 6-under 210, going nearly bogey-free in the final round.
Landon Durham also picked up a top-10 finish at 4-under 212 and eagled on the third hole twice in three days.
Charleston rounded out the top three with a valiant third round to finish 17-under for the event. The four-count jumped out to a hot start after sinking eight combined birdies and an eagle through the first four holes of the day.
Loran Appel earned All-Tournament Team honors in his tie for fourth with a 6-under 210, while
Nevill Ruiter posted a ninth-place mark at 5-under 211 after going bogey-free 68 on Tuesday.
Campbell (-10) and Towson (-3) completed the top five in the standings, also finishing under par for the tournament. The Tigers’
Ariihau Faana joined the five-way tie for fourth at 6-under, while the Camels’
William Sundborn posted a 4-under to close out the top 10.
Talon Dingledine put forth an incredible effort to pace William & Mary after turning in the runner-up card of the tournament with a 9-under 207. The freshman unloaded a bogey-free 6-under 66 in the final round to jump six spots in the standings, sinking four birdies and an eagle. North Carolina A&T also boasted an All-Tournament Team selection as
Ignacio Zapata registered a 6-under of his own.
The championship field finished the tournament with 15 total eagles, including seven on the par-5, third hole.
The Seahawks will find out their location for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Golf Regional on Wednesday, May 6, at 2 p.m., on The Golf Channel.
Team Leaderboard
1. UNCW 276-282-268 | 826
2. Elon 280-287-276 | 843
3. Charleston 281-288-278 | 847
4. Campbell 277-288-289 | 854
5. Towson 278-291-292 | 861
6. William & Mary 287-299-283 | 869
7. North Carolina A&T 288-292-293 | 873
6. Drexel 292-294-293 | 879
9. Hofstra 293-311-307 | 911
10. Monmouth 299-313-306 | 918
Individual Leaderboard
1 James Rico, UNCW* 66-70-66 | 202
2. Talon Dingledine, William & Mary* 67-72-66 | 207
3. John Logan, UNCW* 70-73-66 | 209
T4. Loran Appel, Charleston* 72-69-69 | 210
Ignacio Zapata, N.C. A&T* 68-72-70 | 210
Dylan Lewis, Elon* 71-69-70 | 210
Ariihau Faana, Towson* 67-72-71 | 210
Gray Mitchum, UNCW* 69-71-70 | 210
9. Nevill Ruiter, Charleston 70-73-68 | 211
T10. Two Players Tied 212
*2026 CAA All-Tournament Team
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