HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. -- The No. 16-ranked LeTourneau men's golf team finished off its best run in program history at the NCAA Championships on Friday by placing 12th overall in the 43-team field at the par-72 El Campeon course at Mission Inn Resort.

LeTourneau made the cut for the first time in four trips to the NCAA Championships and then shot a program-best 1-over, 289 in the final round on Friday to cap the 72-hole tournament. The YellowJackets finished 23-over for the tournament at 1171 (292-298-292-289).

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps rallied with a 15-under on Friday to force a playoff with Illinois Wesleyan. CMS came out on top in the playoff to claim the national title. CMS' Sebi Aliaga was the individual champion with a 10-under for the tournament.

Trey Cates went 4-under, 68 in the final round to place in a tie for 20th overall at even-par, 287 (72-74-73-68). The round of 68 marks the best individual round for a YellowJacket at the NCAA Championships. Cates carded six birdies in Friday's final round -- and had 17 for the tournament -- including three straight at one point in his round. He went 3-under on his first nine holes and was 1-under over the final nine. 

Kaiden Schneider wrapped up his YellowJacket career with a 2-over, 74 and finished in a tie for 56th in the field. Schneider registered a 293 (72-74-73-74) in the tournament and tallied 11 birdies across the four rounds. 

Rafa Torres shot an even-par, 72 on Friday with a pair of birdies to finish in a tie for 89th individually. The freshman finished with a 296 (74-74-76-72) with Friday being his best round of the week. Torres had 10 birdies in the tournament, including three in each of the first two rounds to help LeTourneau make the cut.

Owen Prewitt finished with a 7-over, 79 on Friday and had a 301 (74-78-70-79) in the tournament. Prewitt had one birdie on Friday and registered nine for the tournament. 

Brody Holmlund finished off the LeTourneau golfers with a 3-over, 75 on Friday to end the tournament with a 312 (79-76-82-75). He had two birdies on Friday and five in the tournament.

LeTourneau was tied for fourth in the field in par-5 scoring average at 4.79 (-16) and registered 52 birdies as a team.

The YellowJackets earned a spot in the NCAA Championships for a fourth straight year after capturing the SCAC Tournament championship.

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