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Greenville, S.C.----The Wingate University men's golf team heads to The Preserve at Verdae this week for the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Championship, taking place Sunday through Tuesday, April 19-21. The Bulldogs are seeking their first SAC title since 2012. Wingate finished second in the '25 event.
 
The Bulldogs enter the championship ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the region, bringing strong momentum into postseason play. Wingate has consistently competed at a high level throughout the season and will look to translate that success into a conference title against a competitive SAC field. The stakes are high, as the tourney champion earns an automatic qualification (AQ) to the NCAA Division II postseason.
 
Tournament preview
 
- The SAC Championship will be played over 54 holes at The Preserve at Verdae in Greenville, South Carolina
- The three-day event runs April 19-21 and serves as a key postseason opportunity with NCAA implications
- Stroke play consists of 36 holes Sunday, April 19 and 18 holes Monday, April 20
- Following the completion of stroke play, the top four teams will advance to medal match play, which will take place Tuesday, April 21
- Wingate enters as one of the top-ranked teams in the country, looking to contend for the conference title
 
Wingate lineup
 
- Lewis Beeden (No. 1 national)
- Brandon Skidmore (No. 18 national)
- Alfie Storer (No. 28 national)
- Mattia D'Errico (No. 32 national)
- Cole Rouse
- Max Drott (SAC tourney substitute)
 
Players to watch
 
- Lewis Beeden, the No. 1 ranked player in the nation, leads the Bulldogs
- One of the top players in NCAA Division II, he seeks to contend for medalist honors
- Brandon Skidmore provides a strong presence near the top of the lineup
- He is a consistent scorer with the ability to go low in any round
- Wingate's depth across the lineup remains a major strength, with each player capable of contributing low scores
 
Intangibles
 
- The Bulldogs will rely on consistency across all five scores in the 54-hole format
- Strong early rounds will be key in positioning for a championship run
- Advancing to the top four will be crucial to continue into the medal match play portion
- Wingate's combination of top-end talent and depth makes them a strong contender in the field
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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(Editor's note: Wingate junior men's golf student-athlete Matthew Wordon contributed this article. He is an international business major from Bath, England.)