The Bob Jones University Bruins men's golf team captured the overall team victory at the 2026 Bruins Golf Classic, finishing first among eleven competing teams after two rounds at Cobbs Glen Country Club on Monday and Tuesday in Anderson, South Carolina. Additionally, Bruins golfer DJ Waller claimed the individual title with a first place finish.

The Bruins Golf Classic got underway on Monday morning with the largest field of golfers for this annual tournament. Sixty-eight golfers across eleven teams made their way to Anderson, South Carolina, for the two-day tournament. 

Eli DeVaughn, DJ Waller, Dakota Holt, Brayden Joyner, and Graydon Hammond made up the team for the Bruins, with Connor Hairgrove, Ethan Koch, and Tyler Keith competing as individuals. 

After starting his round with three consecutive pars, DeVaughn scored three birdies in a row to take the individual lead. In the back nine, Holt and Waller each had several great holes to help the team move into first place overall. 

With just a few holes remaining in Round One, both Waller and DeVaughn sat on top of the individual leaderboard at one under par. 

Waller finished one under par for a score of 71 to lead the Bruins. DeVaughn was close behind at 75. In his final hole of the opening round, Holt sank a 30-foot putt for birdie to finish +5 on the day. Joyner (79) and Hammond (86) rounded out the scoring for the Bruins as the team finished with a score of 302 to finish first after day one. 

With overcast skies, the Bruins were back on the course on Tuesday for Round Two. A few early bogeys allowed several teams to close the gap on the lead and soon the Bruins dropped to the third overall. 

Holt scored the first birdie of the day for the Bruins followed by more by Waller and Joyner. The Bruins continued to play well on the back nine and had a barrage of birdies on holes eight through 12. It remained a tight match with Brewton-Parker College in the final holes, but the Bruins were able to finish strong and finish on top for a first place finish. 

Waller finished as the overall champion with a two day total of 143. Holt (77-73 = 150) had a great Round Two and wrapped up the tournament fifth overall with DeVaughn (75-76 = 151) close behind tied for sixth. Joyner (79-78 = 157) and Hammond (86-89 = 175) wrapped up the scoring for the Bruins. 

The final team scores for the day are as follows:

1. Bob Jones University: 302-299 = 601
2. Brewton-Parker College: 307-297 = 604
3. Columbia College: 308-301 = 609
4. Covenant College (B): 311-311 = 622
5. West Virginia Tech: 322-312 = 634
6. University of Toccoa Falls: 326-314 = 640
7. Emmanuel University (B): 316-325 = 641
8. Columbia College (B): 337-326 = 663
9. Baptist University of Florida: 336-329 = 665
10. Mid-Atlantic Christian University: 361-328 = 689
11. Clinton College: 401-362 = 763

The full results from the Bruins Golf Classic can be found here. 

"It was a real nail-biter for the last three or four holes," said Head Coach Denny Scott. "Throughout Round Two we went from 1^st to 3^rd up to 2^nd, and then back and forth between 1^st and 2^nd at the end. However, we had a solid enough finish to hold off a very strong and surging Brewton-Parker College team. Praise the Lord!  It is always a thrill to win the Bruins Golf Classic. It has been a few years since we have been able to accomplish that feat."
  
Coach Scott continued, saying, "when we had such a solid first round and held the lead, we knew that we were going to play a different role in Round Two than we had played for a while in a golf tournament. We assumed the role of "being chased" instead of being "the chaser," which takes mental focus, resilience, and patience. You have to stay in the moment and plan the shot in front of you without thinking about the hopeful end result."
 
"DJ, Eli, and Dakota have been the core of this team from early preseason. They have worked hard over the summer months, and it is really paying off. To have three Bruins golfers finish in the top-ten individually of a tournament with nearly 70 golfers is very special. If we can consistently fill in the #4 and #5 spots in the lineup we will be able to reach some of our postseason goals. Brayden showed what he is capable of (especially in Round Two), and we need the consistency that both of these guys can provide in those spots in the lineup."

With the Bruins Golf Classic now complete, the Bruins turn their attention to the regional as they prepare to participate at the NCCAA South Regional Tournament in Hartwell, Georgia, September 28-29.