Riddle’s Historic Run Closes in Silvis, IL

Riddle's Historic Run Closes in Silvis, IL- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director – 5/14/26

TPC Deere Run GC – Freshman Pioneer golfer Christopher Riddle capped off a historic and record-setting season this week at the 74th Annual Men's NAIA National Championship in Silvis, Illinois, narrowly missing the tournament cut after two rounds of competition on Wednesday, May 13.

Riddle was one of just eleven individual golfers nationally to qualify for the championship field, earning his spot after capturing the American Midwest Conference Championship on April 21. The freshman standout continued to represent Crowley's Ridge with poise on one of the biggest stages in collegiate golf, putting together another competitive showing to close an impressive debut campaign.

Opening play Tuesday afternoon at TPC Deere Run Golf Course, Riddle carded a 77 (+7) through the first 18 holes. The California native showcased his scoring ability throughout the round, recording three birdies on holes four, five, and seventeen while battling through a challenging course setup.

Entering round two on Wednesday with hopes of climbing the leaderboard and making the championship cut, Riddle faced difficult and windy conditions throughout the day. Despite the tough environment, the freshman continued to compete with determination, highlighting his round with a birdie on hole twelve before finishing with a 78 (+8). Riddle concluded the national championship at 155 (+15) across two rounds, coming just short of advancing to the final stages of the tournament.

Although his national tournament run came to an end, Riddle's freshman season will go down as one of the strongest in program history. From earning conference champion honors to competing on the national stage, the young Pioneer established himself as one of the top golfers in the AMC and provided plenty of excitement and optimism for the future of Pioneer Golf.

When asked to reflect on the season, Head Coach Brady Flynn commented, "This historic season would be non-existent if it weren't for the players that we recruited. Not only did we find great athletes, but we managed to get high-character individuals as well. As a coach, that's all I could ever ask for. Winning an AMC Conference title and making a NAIA National Tournament appearance were our goals this year, and we were able to check both boxes. A season like this only gives me hope that we can continue this trend for years to come! #FearTheNeer"

Freshman Christopher "The Bear" Riddle also reflected on the impact the season had on him and his future in the program.

"Playing for Crowley's Ridge College as a freshman has meant everything to me. Coming in, I just wanted to prove I belonged at the college level, but this season became so much bigger than that. Winning the individual conference championship and making it to the national championship showed me what's possible when you surround yourself with great teammates and coaches.

For me personally, it gave me confidence in my game and motivation to keep pushing. Being around teammates and coaches who expect excellence every day changed the way I look at golf and at myself. It made me realize I'm capable of competing at a high level, but also that there's still another level I can reach.

This experience gave me a vision for the future, not just to be good, but to keep growing into the best player and teammate I can be. It's motivated me to work harder, stay disciplined, and keep chasing bigger goals for both myself and this program."

Congratulations to Pioneer Golf and to Chris Ridde on a record-setting season. Until next year,  #GOPIONEERS