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Vincennes University

VU Takes Fourth in Deep MWAC Championship Field

VU Takes Fourth in Deep MWAC Championship Field
Results
October 6, 2025

URBANA, Ill. – The Vincennes University Men's Golf team turned in a gritty performance Monday at the Midwest Athletic Conference (MWAC) Championship, finishing tied for fourth at +41 in a strong seven-team field at Atkins Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois. The event was hosted by Illinois Central College.

The Trailblazers posted rounds of 311 and 306 for a two-round total of 617, matching Danville Area CC for fourth place. Heartland Community College, the nation's No. 1-ranked NJCAA Division II team, captured the conference title at +9, followed by Illinois Central (+22) and Parkland (+32).

VU's top finisher, sophomore Landon Gardner, placed sixth overall in the 47-player field, and delivered one of the tournament's most impressive bounce-back performances. Gardner carded a 7-over 79 in the first round before catching fire in round two, firing a 2-under 70 that tied for the low round of the day. His day-two surge included birdies on holes 3, 6, 13, and 18, as he played his final 27 holes 2-under par after an early stumble. "Landon showed a lot of maturity," said Head Coach Dennis Chattin. "He struggled early but stayed patient and really trusted his game. That kind of composure is exactly what you want from a sophomore leader."

Sophomore Brock Naile finished tied for 10th at +9 (73–80), opening with one of VU's best rounds on day one. His opening 73 helped keep the Trailblazers near the top of the leaderboard early, and despite a slower second round, he remained inside the top 10 for the tournament. Freshman Kollin Kelsey tied for 12th at +10 (78–76) and showcased similar steadiness, playing 13 of 18 holes at par or better on day two. Sophomore Parker Steininger shot 83–78 (+17) to finish 23rd, rebounding with a strong second round that helped the Trailblazers lower their team total by five strokes. Sophomore Matthew Mills rounded out the lineup in 33rd place after rounds of 92 and 81 (+29), improving by 11 shots on day two as he found his rhythm down the stretch.

Chattin noted that VU was missing two of its top players — freshman Cameron Chattin and sophomore Kadin Gibson, who were simultaneously competing in the Golfweek "Put Me In Coach" Invitational hosted by Ball State University at Delaware Country Club in Muncie, Indiana. "We were down two of our top guys, which naturally affects depth, but it also gave others a great opportunity to step up," Chattin said. "Our conference is as strong as it's ever been — Heartland is No. 1 in the nation, Illinois Central played exceptionally well, and Parkland was right there too. It really speaks to how deep and competitive Region 24 has become."

Despite hoping for a slightly higher finish, Chattin emphasized the positives in VU's performance. "We battled well," he said. "Even with a short lineup, the guys competed, kept us in the mix, and showed we belong in this group. The experience from this will only help us heading into the rest of the fall."

The Trailblazers have a quick turnaround as they head back on the road Wednesday for the Mineral Area College Fall Invitational at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Missouri.

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