BYRON, Ill. – The Highland Community College Men's Golf team delivered a resilient performance at the 2026 Region IV/Midwest District Tournament, finishing runner-up and securing an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division II National Championship for the second consecutive season.
The Cougars posted team rounds of 306-309-308 over the three-day event, earning one of the two automatic qualifying spots awarded to teams from each of the nine districts nationwide. In addition to the automatic qualifiers, one individual not on a qualifying team advances from each district, with six additional at-large team bids determined by the Scoreboard powered by Clipp'd rankings.
With the runner-up finish, Highland will return to the national stage at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Indiana, from May 19–22. This marks just the second time in program history that the Cougars have qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament in back-to-back years, and the first occurrence since the 2006–2007 seasons.
Despite entering the tournament with a season scoring average of 298, Highland embraced the challenge presented by PrairieView Golf Course.
"PrairieView is always a demanding test, and this week was no different," said Head Coach Javier Jazo. "The conditions were tough, but I'm proud of how our guys battled and stayed composed. To come away with a runner-up finish and another trip to nationals says a lot about this group."
The Cougars will enter the national tournament with confidence, having already experienced success at Swan Lake Resort earlier this season. Highland finished third at the NJCAA National Preview, competing against a strong field that included many of the teams set to tee it up at nationals later this spring. That performance provided valuable course knowledge and reinforced the team's belief heading into the championship.
Sophomore Team Captain Luis Duffy led the way for Highland, carding rounds of 74-73-78 to finish third individually. His steady play throughout the week set the tone for the Cougars in a deep and competitive field.
Highland placed four players on the All-Region IV Team, highlighting the program's depth and consistency. Honorees included Luis Duffy, Francisco Roubineau, A.J. Anderson, and Jake Maloret.
The Cougars' continued success at the regional level reflects a strong tradition of national representation. Highland has sent at least one individual golfer to the NJCAA National Championship every year since 2000. Notable qualifiers include Kyle Ketcham and Javier Jazo in 2020, Connor Shoemaker in 2021, Riku Moriyama in 2022, the full team in 2023 as Region IV Champions, Oskar Akerlind in 2024, and team appearances in both 2025 and now 2026 following runner-up finishes.
With momentum on their side, experience at the national course, and confidence built throughout the season, Highland now sets its sights on making an impact against the nation's best.
The Cougars will tee it up at Swan Lake Resort beginning May 19.
Final Results: Click Here
