Men's Golf Sweeps Individual Heart Awards Following Conference Championship
Marshall, Mo., (April 29, 2026)- The No. 11 Missouri Valley College men's golf team won the Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championship title Tuesday at Paradise Point in Smithville, Mo., and swept the conference's individual awards.
Freshman Felipe Suarez (Cordoba, Argentina) was named both the Heart Player of the Year and the Heart Freshman of the Year for his play during the season and at the championship tournament. Suarez won the Heart Championship as an individual by four strokes, finishing the tournament at -10 (206). During the regular season, Suarez was named the Heart Men's Golfer of the Week five times, and was named the NAIA Men's Golfer of the Week twice. Suarez also becomes the fifth player in program-history to earn the Heart Player of the Year award joining Kaz Sakai (2017), Nicolas Evangelio (2019), Pablo Hernandez (2021) and Mateo Quiroga (2023).
In addition to the individual awards, Suarez was named to the Heart Men's Golf All-Conference Team, and was joined by two teammates. Freshman Joaquin Raminger (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Senior Chad Corburn (Bloemfontein, South Africa) both earned all-conference recognition for their play during the regular season and at the Heart Championship. Coburn earned the Heart Men's Golfer of the Week award once this season, and becomes a three-time all-conference selection, earning the honor in 2025 and as a member of the Central Methodist (Mo.) program in 2023. Raminger earned his first all-conference selection, and was the Heart Men's Golfer of the Week and NAIA Men's Golfer of the Week once this season.
Also, Head Coach Stephen Main was named the Heart Men's Golf Coach of the Year, earning the award for the first time in his career after guiding the team to six tournament wins during the regular season and the Heart title. Main becomes the second coach in program-history to earn the award, joining Jordan Dickson (2017, 2019).
The Missouri Valley men's golf team earned an automatic berth into the 2026 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship, which takes place May 12-15 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. This will be the program's second appearance as a team at the National tournament. The 2019 team finished No. 15 overall at the National championship.
About Missouri Valley College
Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.