Men’s Golf Closes Strong at American Championship

Wednesday, April 29

Sarasota, FL

All Day

Rice University

American Championship

Men’s Golf Closes Strong at American Championship

4/29/2026 3:12:00 PM | Men's Golf

Final Results

By: Tim Andrzejewski (tra3@rice.edu)

Sarasota, Fla. — The Rice Men's Golf team shot -11, the second lowest round of the day, to finish in third-place at the American Championship, played at the Ritz Carlton Member's Club in Sarasota, Fla.

The Owls finished -28, the second lowest score to par in school history, to earn their fourth top three finish of the year.

Sophomore Daniel Zou had the best round of his career, firing an eight-under 64, the second best round in Rice history, and tying the best round in American Championship history, to finish in a fifth-place tie at -11. After a par to start the day, he birdied the next five holes. He then parred eight straight. But on 15, he connected on an 80-foot putt from off the green for eagle before adding a birdie on the 17^th.

The 64 is Zou's seventh round in the 60's this year and the 16^th of his career. It's also the 19^th round of par or better this season and the 40^th of his career. It is his first top five finish of the year and the second of his career.

Senior Lukas Boandl tied for ninth-place at -8 after carding a 68. After pars on the first three holes, he birdied the next three before a bogey at the ninth put him at two-under at the turn. Boandl got it back with a birdie on the 11^th. He then birdied the 15^th before closing his day with three straight pars.

The 68 was his 13^th round in the 60's this year, and the 27^th of his career. It was also his 23^rd round of par or better this season and the 61^st of his career. He also earned his fourth top 10 finish this season and seventh of his career.

Junior Reggie Zhu carded a 76 to finish in 13^th-place at -5. It is his third top 20 finish this season and the eighth of his career.

Freshman Raines Watson fired a 70, his 13^th round of par or better this year, to tie for 29^th-place at +2, and redshirt junior Henry Daly posted a 75 to finish at +3 in a 32^nd-place tie.

No. 22 Charlotte ran away with the championship, finishing -48, 17 stroked ahead of Memphis. Memphis' Diego Do Patrocinio Lourenco defeated Charlotte's Chase Cline in a playoff to earn medalist honors.

JUSTIN EMIL QUOTABLE

"I'm really proud of the way the guys played today, especially Daniel (Zou) with a bogey-free 64. He has been due a round like that for a long time now. There's been a lot progress for our team this year. Now we just have to wait to see if we get to keep going."

NEXT UP

Rice will wait to see if it has its named called during the NCAA Selection Show next Wednesday, May 6 at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel.

3            Rice                                    272-287-277/836            -28
t5           Daniel Zou                        72-69-64/205                   -11
t9           Lukas Boandl                   66-74-68/208                  -8
13          Reggie Zhu                       66-69-76/211                  -5
t29         Raines Watson                73-75-70/218                   +2
t32         Henry Daly                       68-76-75/219                  +3