UCLA Wins Second Straight Big Ten Golf Championship

UCLA's men's golf team just proved their 2025 championship was no fluke, claiming their second consecutive Big Ten title in dramatic fashion at Oregon's Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

Freshman phenom Josh Kim sealed the victory with three consecutive birdies on his final holes, finishing eight under par and earning his first collegiate win. The Danville, California native was the only golfer to shoot under par in all three rounds of the tournament.

The Bruins controlled the competition from the start, surging into an 11-stroke lead after Saturday's second round with an impressive 11-under 269. That performance was the best team round of the entire championship and six shots better than any other squad.

Illinois made things interesting on Sunday, firing a nine-under final round that briefly tied them for the lead. But Kim's clutch finish secured UCLA's four-stroke victory and kept the championship trophy in Westwood for another year.

This win looked completely different from last year's dramatic comeback. In 2025, UCLA rallied from eight shots down in the final round to claim their first Big Ten crown. This time, they grabbed the lead early and never let go.

The Ripple Effect

Kim's breakout performance signals a bright future for UCLA golf. As a freshman leading his team to a championship, he joins an elite group of first-year players who have made immediate impacts at the collegiate level.

The victory also extends Illinois' remarkable consistency. Despite finishing second, the Fighting Illini have now placed in the top two at the Big Ten Championships every single year since 2009, an incredible 18-year streak.

USC's Jaden Dumdumaya added to the weekend's celebrations by becoming the first Trojan ever to win the Les Bolstad Award, given to the Big Ten golfer with the lowest season stroke average. His 69.5 average stood out across the entire conference.

Both teams now turn their attention to the NCAA Division I Championships, where they'll compete for spots in the national finals in Carlsbad, California. The selection show airs May 6 on the Golf Channel.

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