CHANDLER, Ariz. (9/8/26) – Behind a record-tying performance from
Jake Lile, who claimed the first tournament title of his career with a 17-under-par 199, Arkansas State men's golf opened the season with a third-place finish among 13 teams at the Bombs Darts Birds Collegiate hosted by USC.
Fueled by 18 birdies and only one bogey across three rounds, Lile recorded a career-best 17-under-par 199 at Whirlwind Golf Club. After an opening-round 67, he closed with consecutive 6-under 66s to claim the first medalist honors of his career. His 199 tied for the fourth-lowest 54-hole total in program history and marked the 26th individual title under head coach
Mike Hagen.
Henry Styles matched Lile Tuesday with a 6-under 66 to close out the tournament at 10-under par 206 and a tie for 17th in his A-State debut. Styles was bogey-free on the round and eagled the par-5, 17th hole.
Jake Wallis fired his best round of the week Tuesday with a 5-under par 67 to close at 8-under par 208 and 28th place.
Milan Reed (69-70-73) and
Cole Kirby (71-69-72) were tied for 45th while
Viggo Hed (71-74-69) tied for 59th.
Posting its lowest round in program history away from its home course, the Red Wolves posted a 20-under par 268 Tuesday, seven shots shy of the program record set at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate in 2021. A-State had a combined 22 birdies and an eagle in its countable scorers to offset just four bogeys. At 43-under par 821 for the tournament, A-State set a program best away from home topping the previous low of 822 at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational last season.
A-State finished third in the strong field, seven back of Santa Clara (-50) for the top spot while New Mexico State (-47) was second. The Red Wolves finished ahead of Stanford (-37), Eastern Michigan (-34), USC (-34), UTEP (-32), Baylor (-32), James Madison (-32), Washington State (-30), ULM (-29), California (-27) and Fresno State (-13).
The Red Wolves continue their fall schedule Sept. 25-26 in the William H. Tucker Invitational at the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque, N.M.
Bombs Darts Birds Collegiate
Final Results
3 Arkansas State 274-279-268=821 (-43)
1
Jake Lile 67-66-66=199 (-17)
t17
Henry Styles 69-71-66=206 (-10)
28
Jake Wallis 69-72-67=208 (-8)
t45
Milan Reed 69-70-73=212 (-4)
t45
Cole Kirby 71-69-72=212 (-4)*
t59
Viggo Hed 71-74-69=214 (-2)
*Playing as an individual