Highlanders claim NJCAA Division I Golf National Championship & three named All-Americans

The McLennan Highlanders rallied to claim the 2026 NJCAA Division I Golf National Championship at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas. The Highlanders shot 306-281-299-286 – 1,172 to finish one stroke ahead of second place Indian Hills (Iowa) with 293-291-298-291 – 1,173.

Odessa (Texas) finished in third with 300-292-302-286 –1,180, followed by Hutchinson (Kanas) in third with and 301-295-298-291 – 1,185 and Weatherford (Texas) in fifth with 308-287-298-304 – 1,197.

Abe Bignell claimed the individual national title with 72-68-73-69 – 282 and was named a First-Team All-American.

Dylan Deserrano was also named a First-Team All-American, shooting 75-71-74-72 – 292 to finish in sixth place. Jame Ilsley shot 81-71-74-72 – 298 to finish tied for 12th place to earn Second-Team All-American honors.

Other McLennan scores: Luke Beckman, tied for 23rd, 78-71-79-73 – 301; and Robert Gonzalez, tied for 46th, 81-72-78-76 – 307.

Other team scores: Central Alabama, sixth, 300-390-307-303 – 1,200; Midland, seventh 303-297-302-304 – 1,206; Palm Beach State (Florida), eighth, 317-289-317-290 – 1,213; Iowa Western, ninth, 303-298-315-300 – 1,216; Eastern Florida State, 10th, 309-302-303-303 – 1,217; Tyler (Texas), 11th, 304-305-316-297 – 1,222; New Mexico, 12th, 310-296-314-305 – 1,225; Garden City (Kansas), 13th, 314-300-317-295 – 1,226; Central Wyoming, 14th, 311-312-313-306 – 1,242; Eastern Wyoming, 15th, 318-302-314-310 – 1,244; Western Texas, 16th, 324-307-307-307 – 1,254; New Mexico Military, tied for 17th, 315-294-328-309 – 1,246; Dodge City (Kansas), tied for 17th, 308-297-319322 – 1,246; Blinn (Texas), 19th, 323-307-313-306 – 1,249; and Eastern Arizona, 20th, 311-315-326-304 – 1,256.