AKUMAL, Mexico (September 29, 2026) – Hunter Welch and Hudson Reagan each carded 1-over-par 73s Tuesday as Lubbock Christian University closed its season-opening trip to Mexico with a 302 in the final round of the DII Shootout at PGA Riviera Maya.
 
The Chaparrals finished the 54-hole event ninth with a three-round total of 922 (+58), posting rounds of 313, 307 and 302 at Tulum Country Club at PGA Riviera Maya. LCU improved its team score in each round and finished one stroke ahead of Team Mexico.
 
Welch's 73 was his best round of the tournament and completed an encouraging LCU debut for the Midland College transfer. After opening with an 81, the Lubbock native improved to a 76 Monday before shaving another three strokes Tuesday to finish tied for 20th at 230 (+14).
 
His final-round score came despite difficult conditions late in the day. With all five Chaparrals beginning on No. 10, Welch was 3-under for his round as he headed to his final three holes. A tropical depression moved into the area late in the round, bringing rain and high winds while Welch and freshman Kaden Frierson — LCU's final two players on the course — were trying to finish.
 
Welch played those final three holes at 4-over to settle at 1-over 73. Even with the difficult closing stretch, he completed the tournament at 4-under on the par-5 holes, averaging 4.67 and ranking second in the field in par-5 scoring. Welch also led LCU with nine birdies and recorded the Chaparrals' lone eagle of the tournament.
 
Reagan matched Welch with a 73 Tuesday, improving six strokes from his opening-round 79 and five from Monday's 78. The Brownwood, Texas, junior joined Welch and Frierson in a three-way tie for 20th at 230 (+14). Reagan's strongest work came on the par-3s. He played the course's 12 par-3 holes at 2-under over three rounds, averaging 2.83 and tying for third-best in the field in that category. He closed the event with 30 pars and six birdies.
 
Frierson finished his collegiate debut tied for 20th alongside Welch and Reagan. The freshman followed rounds of 77 and 75 with a 78 Tuesday to complete the tournament at 230 (+14).  Frierson was 3-over for his final two holes as the weather deteriorated. He nevertheless finished with seven birdies and 30 pars over the three rounds and was LCU's most effective player on the par-4s, playing them at 7-over with a 4.23 scoring average. He also completed the par-5 holes at even-par.
 
Senior Noel Bondesson posted his second consecutive 78 Tuesday after opening with an 85, finishing tied for 46th at 241 (+25). Leyton Hiebert rounded out the lineup with an 81 and finished 48th at 245 (+29). Hiebert's appearance marked his return to competition for LCU after not competing for the Chaparrals last season, with the tournament representing his first LCU action since Oct. 21, 2024.
 
As a team, LCU accumulated 143 pars, 30 birdies and an eagle during the three-day tournament. The Chaparrals averaged 3.28 on the par-3s (+17), 4.41 on the par-4s (+61) and 5.30 on the par-5s (+18).
 
UT Permian Basin captured the team title with an 888 total after rounds of 294, 295 and 299. Colorado Mesa and UT Tyler tied for second at 890, with Texas A&M-Texarkana fourth at 904. Western New Mexico and Cal State East Bay shared fifth at 916, followed by West Texas A&M at 917 and UT Dallas at 918.
 
Individually, UT Permian Basin's Dian Wilmot and UT Tyler's Blake Harwell shared the top spot at 3-under 213. Wilmot surged into the tie with a final-round 68, while Harwell followed rounds of 72 and 68 with a 73. Colorado Mesa's Henry Starr finished third at 219.
 
The Shootout at PGA Riviera Maya marked the second international competition in LCU program history after the Chaparrals made their first trip outside the United States at the same event last season. This year's tournament also served as the collegiate debut for Frierson, the LCU debut for Welch and Hiebert's return to the Chaparrals lineup.
 
LCU returns to competition Monday, Oct. 5, at The Hrnciar, hosted by Cameron at The Territory Country Club in Duncan, Okla.