Van der Wath wraps up first round of NAIA Tournament

UHV's Joshua Van der Wath hits a tee shot during the first round of the UHV Fall Classic at The Club at Colony Creek on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Sam Fowler/UHV Athletics)
UHV's Joshua Van der Wath hits a tee shot during the first round of the UHV Fall Classic at The Club at Colony Creek on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Sam Fowler/UHV Athletics)
Results
May 21, 2025

SILVIS, Ill. – After showers washed away the first day of the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship, UHV senior Joshua Van der Wath finally teed off in quest of a national championship.

The South African carded a five-over-par 76 at TPC Deere Run on Wednesday after originally being scheduled for the afternoon wave on Tuesday. He sits in a tie for 88th, but is only five shots off the Top 20.

Due to the weather, the tournament has now been shortened to 54 holes with the field being cut to the top 15 teams and ties, and the top six individuals not on one of those teams.

Van der Wath kept a relatively clean scorecard with two birdies and 10 pars, but a double bogey on the Par 4 fifth hole and four other blemishes kept the 2024 All-American from being one of the 19 golfers to record rounds under par.

Dalton State's (GA) Jack Whaley leads the field of 156 golfers after shooting an NAIA record round of 61 (-10). Wayland Baptist (TX) holds a four shot lead over Dalton State in the team race.

Van der Wath tees up for the second round at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.