SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –North Dakota State was picked to win the 2025 #SummitMGF Championship in April as Summit League officials released their Men's Golf Preseason Poll and Golfers to Watch list Thursday.

With the additions of Northern Colorado and Weber State this season, the Bison were one of three teams to receive first-place tallies in the 11-team poll as they edged Oral Roberts.

NDSU collected 97 total points to earn the top spot in the poll voted on by the League’s 11 head coaches. The Bison secured eight first-place votes in total, while the Golden Eagles collected two and finished second with 89 points. The Bison are seeking their third team title and first since 2018, while the Golden Eagles will be looking to claim their eighth overall championship and first since 2010.

South Dakota State earned the remaining first-place vote as the Jackrabbits finished third with 81 points. Reigning Tournament Champion Kansas City was tabbed fourth with 75 points. The Roos won the team title a season ago, which was their fourth overall and second since rejoining the conference prior to the 2019-20 campaign.

St. Thomas took fifth with 67 points, while Denver was sixth with 53 points. The Coyotes, who are under the direction of first-year head coach Chad Green, claimed seventh with 41 points. Northern Colorado, a new affiliate member for the sport, followed in eighth with 36 points.

Omaha was pegged to finish ninth with 28 points, while Weber State, the second new affiliate for this year, trailed the Mavericks in 10th with 24 points. North Dakota rounded out the poll with 14 points.

2025 Men’s Golf Preseason Poll

Program	Points
1. North Dakota State	97 (8)
2. Oral Roberts	89 (2)
3. South Dakota State	81 (1)
4. Kansas City	75
5. St. Thomas	67
6. Denver	53
7. South Dakota	41
8. Northern Colorado	36
9. Omaha	28
10. Weber State	24
11. North Dakota	14

First-place vote in parentheses Preseason Watch List (Alphabetically)
Zander Grant // Denver // So. // Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
 

• Closed Mark Simpson Invitational with a 69 (-3) and post a fall best 54-hole total of 216 (E)
• Ranked second among the Pioneers with a 73.3 stroke average in five fall events
• Recorded a pair of top-20 finishes in six events as a freshman

 
Mason Haley // Kansas City // Fr. // Enid, Okla.
 

• Tied for eighth in collegiate debut at the Wildcat Invitational, posting a 54-hole score of 217 (+1)
• Appeared in all five fall events for the Roos, pacing the team with a 72.1 stroke average and five rounds at par or better
• Closed the Everett Buick GMC Classic with a fall best 66 (-6)

 
Ty Kretz // South Dakota State // Sr. // Marinette, Wis.
 

• Led all Summit golfers with a 71.0 stroke average in four fall events, posting nine of 12 rounds at par or better
• Top Jackrabbit finisher in all four fall events, including a pair of top-15 finishes
• Tied for 12^th at the 2024 Summit League Championship with a 54-hole total of 212 (-4), helping Jacks to a runner-up finish

 
Gustav Lijeberg // Oral Roberts // So. // Helsingborg, Sweden
 

• Appeared in 10 events as a freshman, posting a 74.0 stroke average and nine rounds of par or better
• Tied for fifth at The Clerico, posting a 54-hole total of 213 (+3)
• Second round score of 65 (-5) at The Clerico was tops among Summit golfers in the fall

 
Jaeseung Na // Northern Colorado // Jr. // Auckland, New Zealand
 

• Ranked third among Summit golfers with a 71.8 stroke average in four fall events
• Tied for sixth at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, closing with a 69 (-3)
• Posted a fall best 67 (-5) in the second round of the Mark Simpson Invitational

 
Rylin Petry // North Dakota State // Jr. // Fertile, Minn.
 

• After playing in just three events as a sophomore, led team with a 72.1 stroke average in five fall events, which included four top-10 finishes
• Posted three rounds in the 60’s, including a 67 in round two of the Monterrey Collegiate Classic where carded a fall best 207 (-9) to tie for seventh
• Led the Bison with 10 rounds of par or better in the fall after posting just one in nine rounds as a sophomore

 
Nate Peyerl // North Dakota // So.  // West Fargo, N.D.
 

• Earned the final Peak Golfer of the Week accolade of the fall after placing third at the ODU/Kilmaric Invitational where he shot a career-low 66 in the second round
• Finished the event with a career best 54-hole total of 207 (-6)
• Shot a season-low 68 playing as a substitute in the final round of the 2024 Summit League Championship

 
Owen Rexing // St. Thomas // Jr. // Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
 

• Ranked second among the Tommies with a 72.4 stroke average in eight events a season ago
• Placed inside the top 25 at each of the Tommies’ four fall events, including a team best tie for eighth at the Tommie Invitational
• Tied for third at the 2024 Summit League Championship, carding a season best 54-hole score of 209 (-7)

 
Max Schmidtke // South Dakota // Gr. // Sheboygan, Wis.
 

• Paced the Coyotes in the fall with a 71.4 stroke average and a trio of top-10 finishes
• Tied for third at the SIUE Dolenc Invitational after opening with back-to-back rounds of 66 (-5)
• Tied for fourth at the Zach Johnson Invitational with three straight rounds of par or better

Luke Strako // Omaha // Jr. // Omaha, Neb.
 

• Led Mavericks with a 73.4 stroke average during five fall events
• Turned in a pair of top-10 finishes, including a season best runner-up finish at the Throw Down Up Top where he carded a 54-hole total of 215 (-4)
• Closed the fall with a t-10 at the ODU/Kilmaric Invitational, which included a season best 67 (-4)

 
Matthew Wilson // Weber State // Fr. // Nanaimo, BC, Canada
 

• Earned a pair of Summit League Peak Golfer of the Week honors during the fall
• Made 10 birdies and an eagle to finish sixth at the Utah Collegiate Shootout with a 36-hole total of 139 (-5) total
• Helped lead the Wildcats to the Bill Cullum Invitational title by placing third in the field with a 213 (-3) total

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