BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Junior Dennis Staykov made history Tuesday, firing a 2-under par 70 in the final round to capture his second individual conference title and lead the No. 19 Harding Bisons to a second-place finish at the 2026 Great American Conference Men's Golf Championships.
Staykov, who entered the day in third place, finished the tournament at 2-under par 214 (73-71-70) at Forest Ridge Golf Club. With the victory, the Sofia, Bulgaria, native becomes the first player in Harding history to win the GAC individual championship twice, having previously won as a freshman in 2024.
He is only the second player in conference history to earn medalist honors two different times, joining Arkansas Tech's Henry Frizzell (2021, 2022). Additionally, Staykov became just the third player to win the GAC championship in the same season he was named GAC Player of the Year, joining Southern Nazarene's Michael Hearne (2014) and Southeastern Oklahoma's Zach James (2018).
As a team, Harding saved its best performance for the final day. The Bisons carded a tournament-low round of 3-over 291 on Tuesday to put pressure on the leaders. Harding finished with a three-day total of 22-over 886 (300-295-291), matching the program's best-ever conference finish by placing second for the second consecutive year.
Arkansas Tech took home the team title with an 880 total, six strokes ahead of the Bisons. Southern Arkansas finished third at 892.
Staykov wasn't the only Bison to surge up the leaderboard Tuesday. Junior Jose Arzu also carded a 2-under 70 in the final round, moving into a tie for fourth place at 3-over par 219. Arzu's round featured six birdies, including a clutch stretch of three birdies in four holes on the back nine.
Senior Jose Manuel Peralta finished his final GAC Championship in a tie for 13th place at 8-over par 224, following a 73 on Tuesday. William Pulley finished 31st (+15), and Austin Bibb finished 39th (+17).
Harding's season will continue on the national stage. The Bisons have qualified for the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional, which will be hosted by Ferris State University at the Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Michigan, on May 7-9.
