The University of North Georgia (UNG) men's golf team has been building toward this moment for the past year. Ever since finishing as the NCAA Division II national runner-up in 2024, the Nighthawks have geared all of their work and preparation toward a chance to earn a national title.

"Coming so close last year lit a fire in all of us. We didn't want that feeling to be the end of our story. Making it back is proof of our resilience, our growth and the relentless work we've put in since that final putt dropped last year," senior Ethan Day said. "We didn't come all this way to be remembered as runner-up. We've carried that chip on our shoulder all year, and now we are right where we need to be. With a shot to take what's ours."

This year's NCAA Division II championship runs from May 19-23 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The first three days are stroke play, after which the top eight teams will advance to two days of bracketed match play to determine a national champion.

"We don’t take this opportunity for granted, and we are looking forward to the challenge," head coach Bryson Worley said. "This team’s character and commitment to being elite are inspiring. They hold each other accountable to high standards and expectations. They really love competing and being in the mix."

UNG arrives fresh off finishing 24 shots clear of the field in winning the South/Southeast Regional, where 15 of the nation's top 25 teams competed and only seven teams could advance to nationals from the 20-team event.

"It means everything. All the hours and hard work we’ve put in has led to this moment. This is exactly where we want to be. It's why we show up and push ourselves every day," junior Hunter Smith said. "Coach Worley's built a culture where everyone buys in, and that drives us to keep getting better." 

Senior Hughes Threlkeld said making memories on road trips with his teammates this year has been one of the highlights. All the while, the goal has remained the same: return to the NCAA championship and win it.

"That has been the goal ever since last year, and all of us came here to win a national championship," Threlkeld said. "We all hated that feeling of coming up short last year, and that has motivated us the entire year."

This marks UNG's fourth season in a row reaching the NCAA championship event, finishing 11th in both 2022 and 2023 before taking second a year ago. As exciting as the trajectory of the program on the course is, Worley said his appreciation for his players runs much deeper.

"I love them as people first. They are such high-character guys and do things the right way," Worley said. "Secondly, they are just so much fun to be around. We build our program culture around team chemistry, and we just all enjoy being around each other."