SEARCY — Fresh off a dominant 32-stroke victory in El Dorado, the Harding men's golf team has surged to No. 19 in the latest NCAA Division II national rankings, according to the Scoreboard by Clippd standings released Wednesday.
The Bisons, led by head coach Samuel Tandy, also moved up to No. 2 in the Central Region. The jump follows a scorching spring stretch that has seen Harding claim two tournament titles and four top-three finishes in four events since February.
Harding currently holds an impressive 102-21-3 head-to-head record against all opponents this season. The team's rise is fueled by an adjusted scoring average of 288.3 and a consistent ability to compete at the top of the leaderboard, totaling seven top-three finishes across nine stroke-play events.
Staykov Reaches Top 15 Nationally
Individually, junior Dennis Staykov continues to cement his status as one of the premier golfers in the country. Following his medalist performance at the Arkansas Collegiate, Staykov rose to No. 11 in the national individual rankings.
Staykov is one of three Bisons currently ranked inside the top 60. Sophomore Jose Arzu climbed to No. 51, while senior Jose Manuel Peralta sits just behind him at No. 60.
Rounding out the ranked Bisons are Austin Bibb (No. 539), Conner Geist (No. 823), and Trent Harley (No. 1032).
Spring Momentum
The Bisons' spring resume is highlighted by wins at the Shadow Valley Invitational (March 2-3) and the Arkansas Collegiate (March 23-24). Harding also earned a runner-up finish at the Houston Classic and a third-place finish at the Oak Tree Invitational.
Harding will look to carry this national momentum into the postseason as they prepare for the Great American Conference Tournament at The Club at Forest Ridge in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, scheduled for April 19-21.
Harding Individual National Rankings
Team Profile
