Butcher named OAC Freshman of the Year, three named All-Conference in Men's Golf

By Marissa Myers

| 2025-26 Men's Golf All-OAC Team (.pdf) |

ADA — Ohio Northern freshman Zach Butcher (Medina/Highland) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Golf Freshman of the Year, leading a list of three Polar Bear athletes earning All-Conference honors for the 2025-26 season.

Butcher and junior Aashir Patel (Schaumburg, Ill./Conant) were named Second Team All-OAC and sophomore Ian Briars (Maumee/Anthony Wayne) earned Honorable Mention accolades.

Butcher was second on the team this season with a 73.7 average for 21 rounds. He earned OAC All-Tournament Team honors after tying for third place out of 40 golfers at the OAC Championships, shooting rounds of 75-70-73—218.

Patel is now a two-time All-OAC honoree after placing 3rd at last season's OAC Championships. He tied for 9th place this season, shooting 73-73-75—221. He leads the team this season with a 73.3 average through 21 rounds.

In his career at ONU, Patel has a 73.9 average for 41 rounds.

Briars is also a two-time All-OAC honoree after finishing sixth at the OAC Championships last season. This season he tied for 9th place, shooting 73-73-75—221. He is third on the team this season with a 74.2 average through 22 rounds.

In two seasons at ONU, Briars has a 75.1 average for 45 rounds.

The Polar Bears finished the season at 97-21-1 overall and placed third of eight teams at the OAC Championships, shooting a school record of 291-288-297—876 under 13th-year head coach Chad Bucci.