The Tennessee River Rumble wasn't just your average college golf tournament this week. Oh no, this was a barn burner featuring a who's who of the Division II Top 25, and the No. 2 University of North Georgia Nighthawks proved they belong in that conversation, battling their way to a hard-fought second-place finish at Windriver Golf Club.
In a loaded 20-team field that read like a national championship preview, the Nighthawks carded a 7-over-par 871. They were nipped at the finish line by a mere stroke by the No. 4-ranked and hometown Lincoln Memorial, who finished at 6-over. But the leaderboard was a testament to the high level of competition, with No. 11 Lenoir-Rhyne claiming third at 14-over and the always-tough No. 6 Grand Valley State rounding out the top four at 15-over. This wasn't just a tournament; it was a proving ground against some serious contenders.
UNG's consistent excellence at this event continues, marking their fourth consecutive year finishing in the top three, including a past victory and now back-to-back runner-up performances. That kind of consistency against this caliber of competition speaks volumes.
Leading the charge for the Nighthawks was senior Hughes Threlkeld, who navigated the stacked field to secure a seventh-place individual finish at 1-over. Threlkeld saved his best for last, firing a stellar 2-under 70 in the final round on the challenging par-72 Windriver layout. This marks his second top-10 finish of the season, a timely surge as postseason looms.
Sophomore Colby Bennett continued his rock-solid season, carding a final-round 73 to finish in 16th place. Remarkably, Bennett has been a model of consistency, finishing in the top 20 in every single event this year for UNG.
Seniors Ethan Day and graduate student Jack Vajda both showcased their experience, finishing tied for 23rd at 5-over. Day's steady play and Vajda's opening-round brilliance (a tournament-low 3-under 69 for the Nighthawks) highlight the depth this UNG squad possesses.
Junior Hunter Smith also contributed to the strong team showing, posting a 1-under 71 in the final round to climb the leaderboard.
With the regular season winding down, the Nighthawks have one final tune-up before the stakes get even higher. They'll head to Pensacola, Florida, for the UWF Argonaut Invitational, hosted by No. 3 West Florida. This Tennessee River Rumble performance against a bracket full of ranked teams proves UNG is battle-tested and ready for the postseason push.
