Freeport, IL - The Highland Community College men's golf program etched its name into the history books this week as the Cougars capped off a record-breaking 2025-26 season with the highest finish at the NJCAA National Tournament in program history. Competing against the nation's best at Swan Lake Resort from May 19-22, Highland finished 12th out of 24 teams with a four-round total of 1211.
Entering the week ranked 21st in the field according to the NJCAA Scoreboard by Clippd Division II Golf Rankings, the Cougars exceeded expectations by defeating seven teams ranked ahead of them, including three programs ranked inside the national top ten.
Highland opened the championship with a team score of 303 before firing rounds of 298, 308, and 302 over the final three days. The performance marked the culmination of one of the most successful seasons in program history and showcased the growth, resilience, and chemistry of a Cougar team that consistently battled among the nation's elite throughout the year.
Sophomore Francisco Roubineau led Highland with rounds of 74-76-75-74 to finish with a four-day total of 298. Luis Duffy followed closely behind with rounds of 78-72-75-77 for a 301 total, while AJ Anderson carded rounds of 74-74-78-82 to finish at 307. Jake Maloret contributed rounds of 81-76-85-77 for a 318 total.
The Cougars also received key contributions from Parma Walker and Brock Brown throughout the championship. Walker competed in rounds one and three, posting scores of 77 and 80, while Brown stepped in during rounds two and four with rounds of 76 and 74.
Head Coach Javier Jazo said the national tournament performance reflected the character and unity this group displayed all season long.
"This team has extremely good chemistry and genuinely cares about fighting for each other on the golf course," Jazo said. "I'm incredibly proud of how far this program has come and the way this group represented Highland at the national championship."
The national tournament finish capped off a historic season for the Cougars, who recorded eight top-three finishes during the year. Highland claimed a victory at the Duane Chanay Invitational on August 25, 2025 at Oakwood Country Club and also finished third at the NJCAA National Preview on September 2-3, 2025 — a tournament that provided an early glimpse at the nation's top programs.
Beyond the success on the course, the Cougars also excelled in the classroom. Highland graduated all nine sophomores from the largest recruiting class in school history, with the entire sophomore class finishing with a cumulative GPA above 3.0.
The combination of competitive success, academic achievement, and team culture helped define a season that will long be remembered within the Highland men's golf program. With a national tournament record now set, the 2025-26 Cougars established a new standard for future generations of Highland golf.
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