Butcher leads Men's Golf to win in dominating fashion at OAC Preview
April 2, 2026
WEST LAFAYETTE — Freshman Zach Butcher (Medina/Highland) led the Ohio Northern men's golf team to a promising win Thursday at the Ohio Athletic Conference Preview.
The Basics
- Ohio Northern finished 1st of 8 teams with a 5-under-par 283.
- ONU Season Record: 70-15.
- Marietta and Otterbein tied for 2nd place with 7-over-par 295's; Mount Union took 4th place with an 8-over-par 296.
- Venue: River Greens G.C. - West Lafayette, Ohio.
ONU Individuals
- Butcher finished tied for 1st place of 74 golfers, firing a 4-under-par 68 on the par-72, 6854-yard course.
- Sophomore Ian Briars (Maumee/Anthony Wayne) placed 3rd, firing a 2-under par 70.
- Junior Aashir Patel (Schaumburg, Ill./Conant) tied for 6th place, shooting an even par 72.
- Senior Bennett Christy (Plymouth, Ind.) tied for 10th place, shooting a 1-over par 73.
- Playing with the B-Team, senior Joey DeSimone (Munroe Falls/Stow-Munroe Falls) finished tied for 16th, with a round of 2-over par 74.
- Freshman Brett Bagatti (Medina/Akron Hoban) also tied for 16th, firing a 2-over par 74.
- Playing with the B-Team, senior Evan Dennison (Ashland/Mapleton) tied for 19th with a 3-over par round of 75.
Notables
- The preview includes all eight OAC teams that will compete in the OAC Championships April 24-26.
- Butcher's round of 68 ties his season-low.
- Briars' round of 70 ties his career best.
- Patel maintains the team's best 18-hole average at 71.9.
- ONU head coach Chad Bucci is 497-418-16 in his 13th season at the helm of the men's program, a winning percentage of .534.
Up Next
- The Polar Bears will return to the tee Friday and Saturday when they co-host the Polar Beaver Classic alongside Bluffton at Hidden Creek G.C.
