ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The No. 9 St. Mary's Men's Golf team captured its third tournament title of the season, with four of five golfers finishing in the top eight, including
Baptiste Touchard's first individual medalist honor of the 2025–26 campaign.
Touchard, a senior from Saint-Agathon, France, won in a one-hole playoff against Ilia Antoniadis of Catawba. The pair each finished at 215 strokes, with Touchard claiming the playoff on the 18th hole by two strokes. He posted rounds of 71-69-75 (-1) over two days for his third career title in the Gold & Blue (2024 The Hrnciar, 2025 Las Vegas Desert Classic).
The Rattlers have now won three of the five tournaments they have entered this season, including back-to-back victories after closing the fall with a win at the DBU Classic (885/-9). On Tuesday, St. Mary's totaled 865 strokes (+1), finishing 10 strokes ahead of No. 12 North Georgia.
The three tournament wins are tied for the third-most in program history, trailing only the 2002–03 and 2003–04 teams, which each won five events.
"As a team, we wanted to prove ourselves early this spring," said Director of Golf
Connor McCarthy. "The conditions were very difficult against some of the best teams in the country, but the guys fought hard and navigated the course well."
The field included No. 6 Wingate (5th, +28), No. 7 Georgia Southwestern (T3rd, +24), No. 8 Columbus State (14th, +62), No. 10 Catawba (T3rd, +24), No. 22 Lander (7th, +43), and No. 24 Lincoln Memorial (11th, +51) from the GCAA Coaches Poll.
Elijah Galvan (Austin, Texas) was named to the All-Tournament Team after tying for fourth with a three-round total of 217 (73-72-72, +1). It marked the highest finish of his career, surpassing his sixth-place result at The Hrnciar in October 2024.
Fellow sophomore
Guillaume Paquette (La Minerve, Quebec) and senior
Kongpop Kaikaew (Rayong, Thailand) were two of three golfers who tied for eighth at 219 strokes. Paquette closed with a 77 after rounds of 68 and 74 on Monday, while Kaikaew shot even par in the final round (75-72-72, +3).
Senior
Philip Hallström (Gävle, Sweden) tied for 26th, carding 225 strokes and finishing with an even-par round. He improved by three strokes in each round (78-75-72, +9).
"Now, we're excited to defend our home course this upcoming week," McCarthy said.
The 29th annual Rattler Invitational begins Monday, Feb. 16, at Dominion Country Club.
Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate • Feb. 9-10, 2026
St. Augustine, Fla. • St. John's Golf & Country Club
