Men's Golf | 10/18/2026 7:22:00 PM

LEBANON, Pa. – For the second time in program history and the second time in three years, the Gannon men's golf team stands atop the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), as the Golden Knights used a clutch finish over their final five holes to hold off a late charge from West Chester and capture the 2026 PSAC Men's Golf Championship on Sunday at Iron Valley Golf Club.

The Golden Knights fired a one-over-par 289, the lowest team score of Sunday's final round, to secure the conference championship by nine strokes. Gannon finished the three-day, 54-hole tournament with a 12-over-par 876, ahead of runner-up West Chester (885, +21) and third-place IUP (889, +25).

Gannon's four counting golfers played their final five holes at a combined three-under-par without a bogey, highlighted by freshman Carson Moniz (Laramie, WY/Laramie), who went two-under-par over that stretch to help seal the victory.

The championship marks Gannon's second PSAC men's golf crown in program history after previously capturing its first title in 2024. The victory also gives Gannon Director of Golf Scott Stano his 10th PSAC team championship, including eight with the women's program and two with the men's team.

Gannon opened the tournament with a two-under-par 286 on Friday before carding a 301 on Saturday. The Golden Knights responded with their championship-clinching 289 on Sunday, placing all five golfers among the top 17 individuals. Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) led the way with a third-place tie, followed by Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) in fifth and Mario Estevez (Gijón, Spain/Colegio Montedeva de Gijón) tied for ninth, giving Gannon three top-10 finishers.

"It was a grind the whole day," said Gannon Director of Golf Scott Stano. "We talked about owning the round. We want to control what we can control, trust our process, focus on one shot at a time, and the rest will take care of itself. Just grind all day and never give up, and that's what they did. They had a strong back nine and were able to finish this off. I'm really happy for the guys. They worked so hard the entire fall season, and for it to come out like this is a huge accomplishment. Really proud of them."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Round One – Friday, Oct. 16

Gannon opened the 2026 PSAC Men's Golf Championship with an impressive two-under-par 286 to sit in second place after the opening round at Iron Valley Golf Club. The Golden Knights placed three golfers under par and entered Saturday just five strokes behind first-place West Chester.

Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) led the way with a two-under-par 70, highlighted by four birdies, including three on the back nine. Mario Estevez (Gijón, Spain/Colegio Montedeva de Gijón), making his PSAC Championship debut, and Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) each fired one-under-par rounds of 71. Freshman Carson Moniz (Laramie, WY/Laramie), making his first PSAC Championship appearance, rounded out Gannon's scoring four with a two-over-par 74. Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) added a five-over-par 77.

Round Two – Saturday, Oct. 17

The Golden Knights followed their opening-round performance with a 13-over-par 301 on Saturday, bringing their two-day total to 587 (+11).

Estevez paced Gannon with a one-over-par 73, while Seppanen added a three-over-par 75. Moniz carded a 76 and Parrini finished with a 77 to round out the team's scoring four. Wolak posted a 79.

Estevez entered the final round in second place individually at even-par 144 through 36 holes, just one stroke behind California (Pa.)'s Nixen Erdely. Seppanen sat fifth at two-over-par 146, while Parrini was tied for sixth at three-over-par 147.

Round Three – Sunday, Oct. 18

With the conference championship on the line, Gannon delivered the lowest team round of the day, shooting a one-over-par 289 to hold off a late charge from West Chester and secure the PSAC title by nine strokes.

The Golden Knights closed the tournament in impressive fashion, playing their final five holes at a combined three-under-par without a bogey among their four counting scores. Freshman Carson Moniz (Laramie, WY/Laramie) led the late surge at two-under-par over that stretch, helping Gannon secure its second conference championship in three years.

Senior Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) led the Golden Knights in the final round with a one-under-par 71, bouncing back from rounds of 77 and 79 over the first two days. Wolak, who was also named the 2026 PSAC Men's Golf Champion Scholar, finished his round with a two-under-par 34 on the back nine.

"The team goal was definitely just to give ourselves a chance once we made the turn to the back nine, to stay in contention," Wolak said. "We knew it was going to be a grind all day, and we gave ourselves a chance."

Wolak also reflected on helping the Golden Knights capture their second PSAC Championship in three years.

"It feels good," Wolak said. "We put in a lot of hard work, and it paid off."

Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) and Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) each contributed even-par rounds of 72, while Moniz rounded out Gannon's four counting scores with a two-over-par 74. Mario Estevez (Gijón, Spain/Colegio Montedeva de Gijón) closed with a 77, which did not factor into the team's final-round score under the play-five, count-four format.

Seppanen completed the championship tied for third at two-over-par 218, followed by Parrini in fifth at three-over-par 219. Estevez finished tied for ninth at five-over-par 221, Moniz tied for 14th at eight-over-par 224 and Wolak tied for 17th at 11-over-par 227.

The Golden Knights' final-round 289 was one stroke better than West Chester's 290 and six strokes ahead of IUP's 295, sealing Gannon's return to the top of the conference.

The Golden Knights also navigated three vastly different days of playing conditions, opening with hot weather Friday before battling cold and windy conditions Saturday. Sunday's calmer weather provided a more favorable setting for the final round.

"It was three different weathers," Stano said. "It was hot on the first day. Yesterday was very difficult, cold, windy. And then today was nice and calm. Three different weathers in Pennsylvania is tough, but today was probably the best day, and it's going to make the drive home that much better."

Stano also reflected on the significance of bringing another conference championship back to Gannon.

"This program has a rich history, and for them to get another conference championship, I'm just so incredibly proud of the guys," Stano said. "They've worked so hard, and they've done a great job this fall."

THE KNIGHT CAP

• Back on Top: Gannon captured its second PSAC Men's Golf Championship in program history and its second in three years after winning its first conference crown in 2024.
• Stano's Championship Legacy: Gannon Director of Golf Scott Stano has now guided the Golden Knights to 10 PSAC team championships, including eight with the women's golf program and two with the men's team.
• Nine-Stroke Victory: The Golden Knights completed the three-day championship at 876 (+12), finishing nine strokes ahead of West Chester (885, +21).
• Clutch Finish: Gannon's four counting golfers played the final five holes at a combined three-under-par without recording a bogey, helping the Golden Knights hold off West Chester's late charge.
• Finishing Strong: Gannon shot the lowest team round of Sunday's final day with a one-over-par 289, edging West Chester's 290 and IUP's 295.
• Seppanen Leads the Way: Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) finished tied for third at two-over-par 218, highlighted by rounds of 71 and 72. He improved from his ninth-place, seven-over-par finish at last year's championship.
• Parrini Earns Top-Five Finish: Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) finished fifth at three-over-par 219, opening with a two-under-par 70 before closing with an even-par 72. He improved from his 18th-place, 13-over-par finish in 2025.
• Estevez Makes His Mark: Making his first PSAC Championship appearance, Mario Estevez (Gijón, Spain/Colegio Montedeva de Gijón) finished tied for ninth at five-over-par 221. He opened with rounds of 71 and 73 and entered Sunday's final round in second place individually.
• Freshman Steps Up: Carson Moniz (Laramie, WY/Laramie) finished tied for 14th at eight-over-par 224 in his first PSAC Championship appearance. He contributed to Gannon's team score in all three rounds and played his final five holes at two-under-par.
• Wolak's Final-Round Charge: Senior Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) finished tied for 17th at 11-over-par 227, highlighted by a one-under-par 71 on Sunday, Gannon's lowest final-round score. He improved from his 30th-place, 19-over-par finish at last year's championship.
• Champion Scholar: Wolak also earned the 2026 PSAC Men's Golf Champion Scholar Award while helping the Golden Knights capture the conference championship.
• Returning Knights Improve: All three Golden Knights returning from the 2025 PSAC Championship improved their individual finishes in 2026. Seppanen climbed from ninth to tied for third, Parrini jumped from 18th to fifth, and Wolak improved from 30th to tied for 17th. All three also lowered their 54-hole scores from last year's championship.

GANNON INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
 

Finish	Golfer	R1	R2	R3	Total	2025 Finish
T3	Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium)	71	75	72	218 (+2)	9th (+7)
5	Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo)	70	77	72	219 (+3)	18th (+13)
T9	Mario Estevez (Gijón, Spain/Colegio Montedeva de Gijón)	71	73	77	221 (+5)	First appearance
T14	Carson Moniz (Laramie, WY/Laramie)	74	76	74	224 (+8)	First appearance
T17	Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area)	77	79	71	227 (+11)	30th (+19)
1st	Gannon Team	286	301	289	876 (+12)	—

UP NEXT
The Golden Knights return to action Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 26-27, when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, for the Military Appreciation Tournament hosted by Ohio Dominican University.

The two-day tournament will mark Gannon's final event of the fall season.
 

This story was written using the support of AI.