SEARCY, Ark. – Following a dominant run that includes six top-three finishes this season, the Harding men's golf team has ascended to No. 2 in the NCAA Central Region rankings released Wednesday by Clippd.
The Bisons also maintained their status as one of the premier programs in the country, holding firm at No. 26 in the Division II national rankings. Under the guidance of head coach Samuel Tandy, Harding has put together a stellar 91-21-3 head-to-head record across 22 rounds of competition this season.
A Tradition of Top Finishes
The move up the regional leaderboard comes on the heels of a highly successful spring stretch. Since the turn of the year, the Bisons have finished no lower than third in any event:
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Shadow Valley Invitational: Tournament Champions (1st of 16)
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Houston Classic: Runner-up (2nd of 16)
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Oak Tree Invitational: Third Place (3rd of 17)
Dating back to the fall, Harding has finished in the top three in six of their eight stroke-play events, including a runner-up finish at the prestigious Tulsa Cup in October. The team currently boasts a balanced and lethal scoring average of 289.7.
Elite Trio Leads Individual Ranks
Harding's climb is anchored by three of the region's top-performing individuals. The Bisons are the only program in the conference to feature three players ranked inside the top 80 nationally:
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Dennis Staykov (Sr.): Ranked No. 53 nationally.
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Jose Manuel Peralta (Jr.): Ranked No. 58 nationally.
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Jose Arzu (So.): Ranked No. 78 nationally.
Rounding out the ranked roster are Austin Bibb (No. 628), Conner Geist (No. 841), and Trent Harley (No. 1041).
Postseason Positioning
With a No. 2 regional ranking, the Bisons are in a prime position for the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional. The top 10 teams from the Central Region earn an invitation to the 20-team combined regional field, which serves as the final gateway to the NCAA National Championships.
Up Next
The Bisons will look to keep the momentum rolling as they head to El Dorado, Arkansas, for the 2026 Arkansas Collegiate, hosted by Southern Arkansas at Mystic Creek Golf Club on March 23-24.
