By: Hunter McKay
Tournament #8: The Johnnie-O at Sea Island
Dates: March 9-10
Location: Sea Island - Plantation Course – Par 72 – 7,016 yards
Host: Rutgers
Format: 36 Holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday.
Opening Tee
After a month layoff, the Kennesaw State men's golf team will compete in the Johnnie-O at Sea Island.
The tournament is scheduled for March 9-10 at the Sea Island Plantation Course. Teams will play 36 holes of stroke play on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday.
Hosted by Rutgers, the tournament features a competitive field of 15 teams, including No. 23 Notre Dame, No. 44 West Virgina and No. 45 Cincinnati.
KSU looks to bounce back after a sixth-place finish at the Palmas Del Mar Collegiate in Puerto Rico last month.
Tournament Field (15)
#45 Cincinnati, FGCU, Georgia Southern, Kansas, Kennesaw State, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska, NC State, #23 Notre Dame, Penn State, Princeton, Rutgers, UNCG and #44 West Virginia
Lineup
Shaun Cook
Hunter Gillard
Kyle Bachkosky
Reed Sweigart
Walker Gantt
Individual: Ryne Nicholson
2025-26 Outlook
Kennesaw State returns seven players from last season's squad, which finished ranked No. 67 in the final NCAA Scoreboard poll and placed third at the Conference USA Championship.
The Owls welcome back Conference USA Freshman of the Year
Luca Gallingani, along with
Shaun Cook, a second-team All-Conference selection. Four players who competed in 30 or more rounds last season return for KSU.
Kennesaw State recorded 76 rounds at par or better in 2024–25, with 55 of those rounds posted by players still on the roster. The Owls added two freshmen,
Walker Gantt and
Ryan Nicholson. Gantt and Cook both competed at the U.S. Amateur during the summer.
2024-25 Review
In its inaugural season in Conference USA, Kennesaw State produced a standout 2024-25 campaign. The Owls earned multiple tournament victories, including team and individual titles at the Cullan Brown Collegiate and the Pinetree Intercollegiate.
Claes Borregaard was named Golfer of the Week six times and later earned C-USA Player of the Year honors, while teammate
Luca Gallingani was selected Freshman of the Year.
Shaun Cook received second-team All-Conference recognition. Borregaard finished T2 at the NCAA Auburn Regional and T47 at the NCAA Championships.
Next Up
KSU and Mercer will co-host the Linger Longer Invitational at Great Waters Golf Course at Rynolds Lake Oconee on Mar. 20-22.
