The 2026 SLIAC Men's Golf Championship tees off this weekend with a three-day event beginning on Sunday, April 26. The championship will feature 13 teams playing one round each day, with the winning team claiming the conference's automatic qualifier spot to the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship. The tournament returns to Far Oaks Golf Course in Collinsville, Illinois, the site of the 2023 championship. The schedule is set for an 11:00 a.m. tee time on Sunday, a 10:00 a.m. start on Monday, and a 9:00 shotgun start on Tuesday. Schedule is dependent on weather conditions. 

Lake Forest College comes into this year's tournament as arguably the hottest team in the conference, with three straight top-four finishes. The Foresters are averaging 298.4 strokes per round with Tyler Wengronowitz pacing the team with a 73.3 average. Tyler Schick and Ben Shamberg, along with Wengronowitz, give the lineup three returning All-Conference performers.Lake Forest finished 2nd at last year's tournament and are in search of the program's first conference title. 

Lyon College put together an impressive fall season but hit a hiccup in their last outing at the Cochran Collegiate. The Scots boast a 301.6 team average and have won three tournaments this season, with another three second-place finishes. The balanced lineup features three returners in Blake Turner, Ryan Kriz, and Mikey Winne, along with a pair of freshmen in Hunter Beasley and John Waltzer.

Two-time defending champion MUW brings a 304.5 average into the weekend. They are led by Bryce Denley and his 75.4 average and a low round of 67 this season. Cameron James is the only Owl with previous championship experience and was an All-Conference performer two years ago. 

Spalding University will be in the second grouping of teams and holds a 310.2 average. They are paced by Brady Westwood with a 75.7 average. The graduate student has been the Golden Eagles' top finisher five times this season with a low round of 71. Ben Seidel has three top finishes and carries a 77.7 average.

First-year head coach Josh Hayes brings Webster University into this year's championship. The Gorloks are averaging 311.1 strokes per round with a low round of 300 this season in their previous event. Nico Marin leads off for Webster but will be pushed by teammates Erik Malmgren and Cole Makgill. 

Grinnell College brings a 303.0 average into tournament play and has two wins on the year. The Pioneers are a young team with four freshmen and one sophomore in the lineup. The lone golfer with experience is Roger Smith, who has four top finishes this year, including a team-low round of 68. Spencer Moody, with a team best 74.0 average, tees off first for the Pioneers.

Consistency will be key for Illinois College. The Blue Boys have shown they can put up low scores, including a low round of 294 this season, when they are on but carry a 313.8 team average into the weekend. Myles Kampwerth leads off for the Blue Boys and holds a 76.4 average, while Teddy Walbaum will be looking for a repeat All-Conference showing.

Pranav Nandkumar should be among those challenging for an individual title. He leads Knox College with a 74.1 average and has been his team's top finisher in seven of nine events this year. Nandakumar carded a low round of 68 earlier this month. 

Monmouth College comes in with a 328.8 team average and is coming off a 5th-place showing at the Fighting Scot Invitational. They are led by Connor Watson, who carries a 76.0 average. Jaxson Willer is the only other Scot shooting in the 70s with a 78.6 average.

Blackburn College has had one of its busier seasons of late, playing in 10 events before this weekend. They have a 332.5 average with a low round of 301 coming in their first event this spring. Kevin Hall, who has been the Beavers' top finisher in each event this season, will look to close out his career as an All-Conference performer and leads the team with a 75.9 average.

Aidan Fonke paces Westminster College with a 74.5 average and has nine top team finishes. The senior comes in playing well, with a 2nd place finish at the Storm Spring Classic, and will look to follow up his All-Conference outing from last year. The Blue Jays themselves hold a 334.8 team average.

Eureka College holds a 366.3 average this season, with the majority of its play coming in the fall. They are paced by Connor Scott with an 86.3 average. 

Greenville University is in its first-year of relaunching the program, but has made the most of getting its swings, playing in seven events this season. They have a low round of 309 and average 364.3 strokes per round. John Heater, with his 85.9 average, will be the first Panther to tee off this weekend.