Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Vincennes University

Chattin Earns Medalist Honors, Trailblazers Take Second at Pellissippi Invite

Chattin Earns Medalist Honors, Trailblazers Take Second at Pellissippi Invite
Results
March 17, 2026

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Vincennes University Men's Golf team battled extreme weather conditions on Monday and Tuesday to open play at the Pellissippi State Invitational, finishing second overall at Willow Creek Golf Club. The Trailblazers, ranked No. 27 in the NJCAA, posted a team score of +21, just three shots behind tournament champion Roane State CC (+18).

The event featured a unique format due to weather interruptions, as snow and sleet forced suspension of the opening round and limited the second round to nine holes, creating a condensed and challenging competition window. Despite the conditions, freshman Cameron Chattin delivered a standout performance, earning medalist honors at +1 overall, after sinking a 12-foot putt for par on the final hole and clinching the individual title in playoff holes.

Head Coach Dennis Chattin, an NJCAA Hall of Famer in his 22nd season, praised his team's focus under difficult circumstances. "Our guys did a great job staying locked in despite the conditions," the elder Chattin said. "We played in sleet, snow, and wind to start, and then had to reset mentally the next morning in freezing temperatures. That's not easy, but they handled it really well."

The younger Chattin's first round was paused with a short birdie putt remaining when play was suspended, but he returned the next morning and converted the putt to seize early momentum. "That was a big moment," the elder Chattin said. "It's tough to sit overnight on a putt like that, but he stepped right in and knocked it down. That really set the tone for his round."

The younger Chattin carried that momentum throughout the round and ultimately forced a playoff, where he showed poise under pressure. After matching his opponent with a clutch mid-range putt on the opening playoff hole, he closed the match with a birdie on the third playoff hole to secure the victory. "That's what college golf is about—two players battling and executing under pressure," the elder Chattin said. "Cameron stayed composed and made the putts he needed to win."

Sophomore Kadin Gibson added a strong performance, finishing tied for third at +3, including a fast start in the opening stretch of the final round. "Kadin has that ability, and it was great to see him put it together," the elder Chattin said. "He got off to a really strong start and put himself right in contention."

Sophomore Landon Gardner continued his consistent play this spring, finishing tied for 13th at +7, highlighted by a steady closing stretch in difficult winds. "Landon gave us another solid tournament," the elder Chattin said. "He stayed patient and finished strong, especially with how tough those closing holes played."

Sophomore Brock Naile finished tied for 23rd at +10, while freshman Kollin Kelsey placed 43rd at +22. Freshman Zach Trtan, competing as an individual, finished tied for 38th at +16.

As a team, the Trailblazers showed resilience throughout the event, opening strong in difficult conditions before facing increased winds late in the round. "We got off to a great start and played really well early," the elder Chattin said. "The conditions changed quite a bit late, especially with the wind, and that made those finishing holes extremely challenging. But overall, I was really proud of how the guys competed."

The Trailblazers will return to action March 30–31 at the Belterra Classic, held at Belterra Golf Club in Florence, Indiana.

Join the Journey

As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Golf squad all year long through a number of ways: