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Vincennes University

Kelsey Set for NJCAA National Championship Appearance

Kelsey Set for NJCAA National Championship Appearance
May 18, 2026

VINCENNES, Ind. — Vincennes University freshman golfer Kollin Kelsey will represent the Trailblazers on the national stage this week after qualifying individually for the NJCAA Men's Golf National Championship, scheduled for May 19–22 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind.

Kelsey earned his spot in the national field following a standout performance at the NJCAA Region 24 Championship, where he finished tied for fifth overall at +8 (76-71-74) to become the lone individual qualifier outside of the top two advancing teams.

"Kollin has worked hard to improve, and it's good to see that extra effort pay off," said NJCAA Hall of Fame head coach Dennis Chattin, in his 22nd season leading the Trailblazers. "It's extremely difficult to qualify as an individual because only one player in the region outside of the top two teams advances to nationals. Only nine individuals in the country qualify."

Kelsey will begin tournament play Tuesday, May 19 at 9:51 a.m EST. before returning for round two Wednesday, May 20 at 1:45 p.m EST. Pairings and tee times for rounds three and four will be determined based on the tournament cut and player standings.

Throughout the season, Kelsey steadily elevated his game and delivered his best golf late in the year, including his breakthrough performance at the Region 24 Championship. Chattin pointed to both physical and mental growth as key factors in Kelsey's development. "His distance off the tee has improved a lot this season, but his short-game consistency is what has really kept him competitive," Chattin said. "Kollin has also improved mentally. Early in the year, he was extremely tough on himself, but he's matured by not letting bad shots affect the rest of his round."

The national championship returns to a familiar venue for Chattin and the Trailblazer program, as Swan Lake Resort has hosted numerous NJCAA championship events over the years. "Having played this course several times helps because we know the areas players need to pay close attention to," Chattin said. "The greens are the difficult part of this course, especially with some of the pin placements they can use. Kollin's short game and putting will be very important this week."

Unlike most regular-season events, the national championship features a demanding 72-hole format spread across four days, something Chattin has emphasized in preparation. "This is the only 72-hole event we play all season, so patience is extremely important," Chattin said. "It's more of a marathon than a sprint."

For the Trailblazer program, Kelsey's qualification continues a tradition of national-level representation and reinforces the standard within the program. "We're extremely proud to continue having players qualify for the national championship," Chattin added. "Not many schools can consistently say they've had players competing at nationals. It's important for our incoming players to see that expectation and understand the level we believe they can reach here."

While Kelsey enters the week focused on competing against the nation's top golfers, Chattin believes the freshman has the tools to put together a strong finish. "Everyone wants to win the tournament, but these are the best players in the country," Chattin said. "I know Kollin's goal is to put himself in position for a top-25 finish and compete the way he's capable of."

Live scoring for the NJCAA Men's Golf National Championship will be available throughout the week via Clippd.

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