BALTIC, Conn.– The University of Southern Maine captured the 2026 Little East Conference (LEC) Men’s Golf Championship on Wednesday, finishing three strokes ahead of Eastern Connecticut State University at Mohegan Sun Golf Club in Baltic, Connecticut.

The Huskies followed Tuesday’s opening-round 287 with a 293 Wednesday to finish the two-day tournament at 580, 12 over par on the 6,690-yard, par-71 course. The Huskies broke their previous team record for a par-71 course of 597 in 2024. Eastern Connecticut posted the lowest team score of the final round at 291, closing with a 583 (+15).

Southern Maine’s SJ Welch earned Rookie and Player of the Year honors with an even-par 142. After sharing the opening-round lead with a 1-under 70, Welch shot a 72 Wednesday to finish one stroke ahead of Eastern Connecticut’s Ryan O’Donnell.

O’Donnell climbed from a tie for 10th after the opening round to finish second at 143 (+1). His final-round 69 was the lowest score of the tournament and improved on his opening-round 74 by five strokes.

Southern Maine’s Will Farschon placed third at 144 (+2), following an opening-round 73 with an even-par 71. Western Connecticut State University’s Brayden Kassel and Eastern Connecticut’s Ethan McDaniel and Evan Regan tied for fourth at 145 (+3). Kassel, who shared the first-round lead with Welch, closed with a 75, while McDaniel shot a 73 and Regan a 74.

The Huskies placed four golfers among the top eight. Alex Fournier and Owen Moore tied for seventh at 149 (+7), with Fournier posting rounds of 73 and 76 and Moore recording a 71 and 78. Alex Grant added a final-round 74 to Southern Maine’s team score and finished 16th at 156 (+14).

Eastern Connecticut entered Wednesday five strokes behind Southern Maine and narrowed the final margin to three. Along with O’Donnell, McDaniel and Regan, Drew Johnson contributed to the Warriors’ final-round team score with a 75. Johnson tied for ninth at 153 (+11) with Vermont State University Castleton’s Filip Ransdorf and Keene State College’s Cole Madden.

Final Team Standings

1. Southern Maine — 580 (+12), 287-293

2. Eastern Connecticut — 583 (+15), 292-291

3. Western Connecticut — 616 (+48), 306-310

4. Keene State — 627 (+59), 319-308

5. Vermont State Castleton — 637 (+69), 318-319

6. Rhode Island College — 644 (+76), 315-329

First Team All-LEC (Places 1-5, Including Ties)

1. SJ Welch, Southern Maine — 142 (E)

2. Ryan O’Donnell, Eastern Connecticut — 143 (+1)

3. Will Farschon, Southern Maine — 144 (+2)

4. T4. Brayden Kassel, Western Connecticut — 145 (+3)

5. T4. Ethan McDaniel, Eastern Connecticut — 145 (+3)

6. T4. Evan Regan, Eastern Connecticut — 145 (+3)

Second Team All-LEC (Places 6-10, Including Ties)

• T7. Alex Fournier, Southern Maine — 149 (+7)

• T7. Owen Moore, Southern Maine — 149 (+7)

• T9. Drew Johnson, Eastern Connecticut — 153 (+11)

• T9. Filip Ransdorf, Vermont State Castleton — 153 (+11)

• T9. Cole Madden, Keene State — 153 (+11)