(San Tan Valley, AZ) For the second time this spring, the Park University Gilbert golf team won a tournament going away as the Bucs won its own tournament the Park University Gilbert Shootout at San Tan Highlands Golf Club in San Tan Valley, Ariz. In addition, Riley Wortman used a hole in one to help secure his first college tournament win.
The Buccaneers shot the low round of the day as they shot a 12-under 272 to help the Bucs win by eight strokes over Arizona Christian who also went low as they shot the second best score of the day at 10-under,.
This is the first time the Bucs have won two tournaments outright in the same season. The Bucs finished first in two tournaments last year but fell in extra holes after tying with Embry Riddle.
Park Gilbert won the Sea Beggar Invitational back in February, where they had a lead by as large as 12 strokes before winning by seven over Hope International.
The Bucs now have two first-place and one second-place finish in three tournaments here in the 2025 spring in three tournaments. And in the second-place finish the Bucs finished ahead of a top-10 ranked team in Wayland Baptist.
Individually, the story is about sophomore Riley Wortman who took medalist honors for the first time in his career. Wortman finished third in his last outing at the Top of Texas Shootout. Wortman came into the final round with a two shot advantage and had to hold off a strong front side by Benedictine Mesa’s Joe Kelly. Coming to the par 4 eighth hole the two linksters were tied at -5. Wortman took matters into his own hands as he sunk his first collegiate hole-in-one with a seven iron on the 185 yard hole. Wortman would add two birdies on the backside to hold off Kelly and win by two.
This was second hole-in-one on Park history. The first also came in a Park Gilbert tournament as Victor Larsson sank an ace on the par 3 12th hole at Superstition Spring Golf Club in the 2021-22 season.
Lost in the win and ace by Wortman was a career round for freshman Isaiah Halcomb who shot a career low round of 67 to tie Wortman and Kelly for the low round of the day. Halcomb’s score was a key piece of the team victory and he had his best finish (4th) as an individual.
Senior Eli Cruzan shot a two-under 69 to tie for fifth as the Bucs had three players in the top-five.
Sophomore Jax Sisson rebounded from an uncharacteristic 76 in round one, to post a two under 69 to finish in 11th place. Cole Taylor also improved on his round one score shooting a 74 in the final round.
Individual players Josh Jack (75) and Peyton Shields (80) also improved upon their first round scores.
Next up for the Bucs is the Great Southwest Athletic Conference Championship at the Antelope Hills Golf Club in Prescott, Ariz., April 14-16. The Bucs are very familiar with the course and won there last year in the Embry Riddle Fall Invitational and tied for first in the spring tournament. The Bucs face a daunting task as top-15 programs OUAZ (#6) and The Master’s (#11) loom as spoilers for the Bucs Cinderella story. OUAZ is the defending GSAC Champion.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
Click on Logo
