Chaps Remain in Contention After 36 Holes at Sam Proal Invitational

LCU men's golf team sits tied for 9th, just 26 strokes off the lead in deep national field.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:22am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting overlapping planes of color and shape, representing the complex dynamics of a college golf tournament.A cubist interpretation of the competitive energy and strategic maneuvering at play during a high-stakes college golf tournament.Lubbock Today

The Lubbock Christian University men's golf team navigated a deep and nationally competitive field on Monday at The Sam Proal Invitational, sitting tied for 9th place after 36 holes of play at Pueblo Country Club. The Chaparrals posted rounds of 297 and 290 for a 587 (+19) total, closing the day just 26 strokes off the tournament lead in a tightly packed leaderboard.

Why it matters

The Sam Proal Invitational features multiple nationally ranked NCAA Division II and NJCAA programs, creating a highly competitive environment for LCU to test itself against top competition as the Chaparrals continue the spring portion of their 2025-26 schedule.

The details

Senior Zach Burch paced LCU at even-par 142 (71-71) to sit tied for 13th individually, continuing a strong spring stretch. Senior Trey Dufey followed closely, tying for 22nd at 145 (+3), while junior Jesper Bondesson tied for 40th at 147 (+5) and recorded one of the tournament's notable moments with an eagle.

  • The tournament began on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • The final round will be played on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Zach Burch

A senior on the Lubbock Christian University men's golf team.

Trey Dufey

A senior on the Lubbock Christian University men's golf team.

Jesper Bondesson

A junior on the Lubbock Christian University men's golf team.

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What they’re saying

“The Chaparrals remain in position to make a move Tuesday as they continue the spring portion of their 2025-26 schedule.”

— Chris Due, Author

What’s next

The tournament will conclude on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 with the third and final round at Pueblo Country Club.

The takeaway

Despite facing a deep field of nationally ranked programs, the Lubbock Christian University men's golf team remains within striking distance heading into the final round of the Sam Proal Invitational, setting the stage for a potential late charge up the leaderboard.