ROANE STATE MEN'S GOLF FINISHES STRONG IN NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

PLYMOUTH, Ind. — Roane State men's golf closed another successful season with a return trip to the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship, gaining valuable experience against one of the nation's top junior college fields at Swan Lake Golf Resort.

The Raiders entered the tournament after a season that included multiple strong finishes, a TCCAA Region 7 Championship and a top-10 national ranking. Head coach Chris Griffin said the experience will serve as an important building block for a team that is expected to return most of its roster next season.

"We set a goal to get back to the national tournament, and we were successful meeting that goal," Griffin said. "We didn't have the greatest four days, but the guys competed hard. They got a taste of what that national championship field is like, and we're fortunate to have those freshmen coming back next year."

The championship featured difficult playing conditions throughout the week, with steady winds coming off the Great Lakes impacting golfers across the field. Griffin said the weather was more manageable than last season's national tournament, which featured colder temperatures and rain, but the wind remained a consistent challenge.

"It was typical Midwest weather," Griffin said. "A lot of wind off the Great Lakes. It wasn't like last year where it was cold, rainy and windy, so we got fortunate there. It was pretty windy all four days, but it affects everybody equally out there."

Freshman Lennon Hill turned in the Raiders' top performance of the tournament, finishing tied for 15th individually out of a field of 133 golfers. Griffin praised Hill's consistency throughout the week and said his performance demonstrated the progress he made during the spring season.

"Lennon had a great tournament," Griffin said. "To finish tied for 15th in a field as deep as that says a lot about where his game is right now."

Andersen House also delivered a steady showing for Roane State after emerging as one of the team's most improved golfers throughout the season. Griffin said House continued to compete consistently on the national stage while gaining valuable experience for the future.

"Anderson played consistently," Griffin said. "He knows he can do better, and I think this experience motivates him even more going into next season."

Sophomore Collin Keino, the Southeast District Player of the Year, battled through a difficult tournament after putting together one of the strongest seasons in the region. Griffin said the national championship experience will ultimately help Keino continue to grow as a competitor.

"Collin had a rough time, and that happens to all golfers," Griffin said. "He's such a competitor, and I look for him to come back even stronger next year."

Griffin also pointed to the development of Reggie Phelps and the rest of the roster as a major focus entering the offseason. The golfers will spend the summer refining different areas of their game before returning in August for the start of the 2026-27 season.

"They know what they need to work on after competing at the college level," Griffin said. "They'll go play a lot of amateur tournaments this summer and keep that competitive drive going."

With nearly the entire lineup expected to return, Griffin said the program plans to raise expectations heading into next season. The NJCAA national championship format will shift to include both stroke play and match play, with the top eight teams advancing into the match play portion of the event.

"Our goal next year is to make the top eight and get into match play," Griffin said. "We're going to continue to raise the bar."