SUNY ESF Golf Shines with Top-10 National Finish at 2025 USCAA Championships
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) men’s golf team turned in a strong showing at the 2025 USCAA National Golf Championships, held October 13–14 at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pennsylvania. Facing brisk fall conditions and a deep national field, ESF climbed the leaderboard across two days of competition to finish 7th overall among 16 teams — a testament to consistency, composure, and depth throughout the lineup.
After opening with a team score of 323 in round one, the Mighty Oaks bounced back with an impressive 311 in round two, shaving 12 strokes to close the tournament with a two-day total of 634 (+58). That improvement reflected both individual resilience and a collective ability to adjust to course conditions as the field tightened on the second day.
Leading the way for ESF was Henry Marcincuk, who posted matching rounds of 75–75 (150, +6) to earn a tie for 5th place individually, securing USCAA First Team All-American honors. Marcincuk’s steady play — among the most consistent performances of the championship — placed him just seven shots off the overall medalist, Penn State York’s Dillon Yinger (-1).
Close behind, Tanner Smith delivered a strong second-round 76 to finish T-20 at 156 (+12), anchoring the team’s surge up the standings. Lucas Pryor (84–79, 163, T-45) who also receive USCAA Academic All-American distinction and Dan Jordan (84–81, 165, T-55) each contributed key counting rounds, while Ransom Dutcher (91–82, 173, T-74) rounded out ESF’s scoring lineup, posting a nine-stroke improvement on day two.
The Mighty Oaks’ balance was on full display: all five players showed second-round gains, marking one of the largest cumulative team improvements of the championship field. That second-day surge helped ESF edge several perennial USCAA contenders, including Penn State Mont Alto, Penn State Scranton, and Penn State Shenango.
The Mighty Oaks Golf Team stayed patient and turned in the best rounds of the season, responded with their best golf when it mattered most.
With a Top-10 national finish and an All-American and Academic All-American among their ranks, ESF made its best showing in a handful of years. The Mighty Oaks’ blend of team spirit and emerging talent bodes well for future championship runs.
Check out all the scores and highlights at: https://uscaachampionships.