Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

ALENDALE, Mich. (Apr. 11, 2026) - A day-one front-nine 34 (-2) helped North Central College men's golfer Rylan Lother secure a 12th-place finish at the Hope College Bob Ebels Invitational, where the Cardinals placed ninth as a team in the two-day event at The Meadows at Grand Valley State.

Carter Stephenson led North Central after the opening round with a 75 (+4). Lother followed with a 77 (+6), while Jake Delaney carded a 78 (+7). Nicholas Zaimins completed the first-round scoring with an 84 (+12).

Lother opened day two with an eagle on a 125-yard hole out and closed with a team-best 75 (+4) to finish 12th overall. Delaney placed 29th in the 82-player field with a 155 (+13). Stephenson shared 43rd at 159 (+17), while Zaimins tied for 55th with a 162 (+20). AJ Ackerson finished 69th with a 167 (+25). North Central posted a two-day total of 626 to take ninth place.

Trine University won the team title with a 585. Calvin University's Ethan Tiller claimed medalist honors with a 142 (E).

North Central returns to action Thursday at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Preview. The one-day event begins at 1 p.m. at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, Ill.