MADISON, Miss. (JMU Athletics) – The James Madison men’s golf team fell short of advancing to match play at the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Championship on Thursday, finishing in fifth place at Annandale Golf Club.

JMU came in fifth of 14 teams through three rounds of stroke play on the par-72, 7,215-yard layout at Annandale Golf Club, finishing at even-par 864.

The Dukes finished with rounds of 290-280-294. Tuesday’s round of 280 (-8) was tied for the lowest round for a JMU team at the Sun Belt Championship since joining the league in 2022-23.

Coastal Carolina, No. 45 Arkansas State, Southern Miss, and South Alabama advanced to Thursday’s match play. The Chanticleer duo of Max Bengtsson and Drew Sykes took home the top two individual finishes, finishing at -11 and -8, respectively.

Leading the Dukes with a 54-hole tally of even-par 216 were senior Václav Tichý and junior Jonas DeLeon, as the pair tied for 12th on the 67-player leaderboard.

DeLeon’s tie for 12th was the best of the season, as the native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., carded rounds of 75, 69, and 72. His three-under 69 on Tuesday was tied for his best round as a Duke.

Tichý finished his JMU career with his 20th career top-25 finish overall and third straight at the Sun Belt Championship. He finished with rounds of 72, 71, and 73.

Junior Michael Hake and senior Owen Kose capped off their seasons by each producing a three-round score of 219 (+3), good for a tie for 18th. Hake recorded two rounds of even-par 72 and finished with a 75 (+3) on Wednesday, while Kose’s tournament was highlighted by a 68 (-4) in Tuesday’s second round.

Making his first appearance at the Sun Belt Championship, freshman Ethan Anderson tied for 26th with a 54-hole tally of 220 (+4). Anderson opened play with a 71 (-1) on Monday before finishing with scores of 73 and 76.

— JMU Athletics —