The Park University men's golf program had the short drive to Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate in Overland Park, Kan. on Monday and Tuesday, April 14-15 for the 2025 Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.
The Pirates through three rounds shot a 936 on scores of 310, 311, and 315. Park was 11 strokes off of the leader No. 10 nationally ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University after the first day, but the Pioneers shot an impressive 293 in round three for the win.
The Pirates were in a similar race in 2024 with the Pioneers for the conference title, but MidAmerica Nazarene has been the conference champs for the last two years now and Park has been the conference runner-up both years as well.
The senior Santiago Valdes led the Pirates with a 4th place finish with a 228 or 12 strokes over par. He hit two consecutive 74s on day one and then shot an 80 to finish out the tournament. As a top 5 finisher, he automatically earned Heart All-Conference.
A newcomer this season, Charlie Santonsson showed he can compete on a big stage with a 232 for T7th. Figuring in stroke average for the season, he was also named Heart All-Conference. He was 16 strokes over par for the round with scores of 76, 77, and 79.
Dylan Comstock finishes out his four-year Pirate career with a 235 in rounds of 77, 78, and 80 for T10th.
Gabe Grier placed T23rd and put up rounds of 83, 82, and 78 for a 243 overall score.
Colin Pasitney and Noah Pirtle split time in the five spot. Pasitney started round one with an 86 and Pirtle was passed the baton in round two for a 161 overall with scores of 83 and 78.
The Pirates finish the 2025 campaign with two 2nd place finishes and two 1st place finishes as a team. Both tournament wins were in the spring semester at the Baker Invitational and the Park Spring Classic.
Team/Individual Results
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