CARLSBAD, California – Texas State men's golfer
Sakke Siltala saw his historic run at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship end with a tournament-best round on Sunday at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
The junior, who became the first TXST men's golfer to qualify for the Division I event after finishing tied for second at the NCAA Amherst Regional, fired a third-round 71 to finish tied for 36th on the overall leaderboard. For the tournament, he was +3
"Sakke just completed the best season in Texas State golf history capped off by a great week of golf at the National Championship," head coach
Shane Howell said. "He represented himself, his family, and Texas State University with the utmost class and professionalism this week. I'm incredibly proud of him and couldn't be happier for his success. As good of a golfer as he is he's an even better young man."
Siltala (75-73-71--219) opened the final 18 going 3-under on the first nine holes, before a 2-over final nine brought his total to 1-under 71. It was his 22nd round even or under par this season.
In all, he finished the event with seven birdies and an eagle to bring his season totals to a team-leading 131 and four, respectively.
A back-to-back All-Sun Belt Conference Second-Team selection and two-time SBC Golfer of the Week in 2024-25, Siltala led the Bobcats in scoring average and finished atop the TXST lineup in seven of 10 events competed as part of the lineup. Overall, he collected four top five finishes, seven in the top 10 and eight in the top 25. The junior carded 13 rounds in the 60s and led the Bobcats with all 30 rounds counting toward the team score in regular season action. In all, he finished eight tournaments under par.
Championship Format
All 30 teams and six individuals competed in 54 holes of stroke play. Following 54 holes of competition, the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team advanced for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match-play competition and the 72-hole stroke-play individual champion. For teams, the top eight teams after 72 holes of play will be placed into a bracket thereafter for match play to determine a national champion.
As a team, TXST wrapped up its season at the National Golf Invitational, its second performance at the event in three seasons, and finished seventh.
