Columbia News

The University of Missouri men's golf team secured its first title of the 2024-25 season by winning the Tiger Intercollegiate, held at its home course. The team finished with an even-par score, eight strokes ahead of runner-up Saint Mary's. This marks Missouri's first team victory since tying for first at the 2023 Chicago Highlands and its first outright win since the 2022 Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate.

Graduate student Mattias Varjun claimed his first collegiate individual title with a four-under total (70-70-66), finishing four shots clear of Cincinnati's Ryan Ford. Varjun entered the final round in second place at even par and recorded a career-best 66, including one eagle and four birdies. His three-round total of 206 is also a personal best.

"It was a great win all the way around," said Missouri head coach Glen Millican. "It was very rewarding to see the guys win as a team and Mattias as an individual. It felt like our team picked up a lot of momentum from the final round at Myrtle Beach. We played well there, took another step forward last week at Charleston, played really well and got into contention with nine to go. Then we took another step forward from that and obviously winning at home is great, but winning in a dominating fashion has got to make the guys feel really good about the progress they have made and the work they put in."

After trailing No. 26 UNLV by one stroke following round one and Nebraska by one when play was suspended midway through round two due to darkness, Missouri used a strong finish in round two to take a two-shot lead over Saint Mary's at +5. The Tigers posted a five-under third round—the lowest single-round score by any team during the tournament—to secure their eight-stroke margin over Saint Mary's.

Nebraska finished third at +14, while Kansas State placed fourth at +21.

Varjun reflected on his performance: "Obviously winning today was huge and getting it done in front of the home crowd makes it extra special," Varjun said. We play and practice here every day but when you get a tournament here it has a different feeling. We only get a couple of rounds to perform and show and the fact that we were able to do it speaks volumes about our team.

"I think we have shown good signs already in the past few tournaments of what we're capable of and this is just more good stuff from the guys. We have worked hard this year and now we can see some good results and things go our way, so we just have to keep going about our business, keep working and see where we can go with it."

Four Missouri golfers finished inside the top ten: freshman Trent Mierl placed third with a one-over 211 (71-68-72), matching his best collegiate result; sophomore Veikka Viskari finished fifth (+2) after carding two rounds under par; freshman Bubba Chapman came eighth (+3), marking his best tournament finish so far.

Missouri will next compete in the Mossy Oak Collegiate hosted by Mississippi State starting next Monday.