West Dundee, Ill. -- Three days after starting the 2025-26 season, the Thunder men's golf team was back on the course as Wheaton took part in Judson University's annual fall invitational on Friday. Wheaton once again had two teams of five players competing in the event, and today's tournament was a highly successful one for the Thunder, as the Orange and Blue finished as runners-up in the 28-team field and the Wheaton 'B' squad placed ninth in the standings. This marks the team's best competitive showing since a second-place finish at the Hope College Spring Invitational in mid-April. The Thunder were led by Jackson Swartz, who earned his first collegiate medal with a top five finish at Friday's invite.

Fellow CCIW competitors Carroll University emerged as the tournament winners by a single stroke over Wheaton in Friday's crowded field. The Pioneers topped the 28-team standings with a combined score of 295 (+11), while the Thunder posted a total mark of 296 and finished five strokes ahead of Marian University and North Park in joint-third place. Wheaton's 'B' grouping shot a 309 total score to come in ninth place, one stroke behind Edgewood College and one shot in front of Oakton Community College in tenth. (team award ceremony picture at right) 

Swartz tied for fourth overall as the joint-highest CCIW finisher on Friday's 144-man leaderboard thanks to a noteworthy single-round tally of 72 (+1), entering the clubhouse only three strokes off the winning mark of 69 set by golfers from Elgin Community College and Marian. Fellow 'A' group teammate Ryan Soe shone in his collegiate debut, tallying a 73 (+2) round score to tie for sixth place on the solo standings.

Tannen Reed carded a 75 to tie for 17th, while 'B' teammates Baylor Brogan and Freddie Chan matched each other's rounds with a 76 score and a T-24th placement. Luke Pringle had another solid day on the links, registering a mark of 76 to finish in the top 25, and fellow Thunder newcomer Micah Chiong tallied a 77 to end up a single stroke behind Pringle in the final count.

Wyatt Brown finished the day's play with a score of 78, and Ryan McLain and Aidan Quinlivan each carded an even 80 in Friday's 18-hole competition.

Wheaton will now head into the weekend on a high following today's results but will only have two days to reflect on the invitational before another one beckons. The Thunder are scheduled to travel up to Bristol, Wisconsin on Monday for the first round of the two-day Firebird Fall Invite hosted by Carthage College.