Men's golf: Warriors run away with 14th district title

SPRINGFIELD, MO — For the 14th time in program history, the top-ranked Indian Hills men's golf team captured the National Junior College Athletic Association District Championship, taking home the 2026 NJCAA Division I Central District title in convincing fashion.

The Warriors ran away with the title with a 23-under-par team total of 841, finishing 28 strokes ahead of runner-up Hutchinson Community College. Indian Hills was the lone team in the nine-team event to finish below par after firing round scores of 279, 284 and 278. As a team, Indian Hills claimed five of the top seven individuals in the event.

In addition to the team title, sophomore Charlie Preston captured the individual district championship with one of the most dominant individual performances in program history. Preston fired a 13-under-par 203, tied for the third-lowest 54-hole total in program history.

The 28-stroke advantage in the NJCAA Central District championship is the largest margin of victory in the event since the Warriors won the 2012 title by 41 strokes over Dodge City Community College. The team's 841 total is also the lowest score at the district tournament since the 2018 team fired a remarkable 825 and serves as the second-lowest score in school history.

Preston ran away from the field with an impressive showing at Rivercut Golf Course. The sophomore fired round scores of 68, 66 and 69 to finish at 13-under-par to win the event by four strokes. Preston becomes the ninth individual district champion for the Warriors dating back to the 2009 season.

Preston used an strong showing on Par 3 and Par 5 holes, combining to go 10-under for the Warriors. The sophomore led the 60-player field with 18 birdies.

Along with Preston's dominant showing, the efforts of the Warriors were aided by freshman Harry McArdle, who placed second overall with a nine-under-par of 207. McArdle fired round scores of 67, 71 and 69 for his fourth top-10 individual finish of the year. McArdle tallied 15 birdies on the week, second-most behind Preston.

Miles Bollinger produced a third-place showing for the Warriors with a four-under-par 212 after climbing the leaderboard on the final day of competition. After back-to-back even par rounds to open the week, Bollinger carded a four-under-par 68 on the final day for his fourth top-five finish of the year. Bollinger's 14 birdies were third-most on the week.

Freshman Nathan White and sophomore Freddie Surgey tied for fifth overall with a two-over-par 218. Surgey climbed eight spots on the final day with a three-under-par 69 on the final day of action.

With the title in hand, the Warriors automatically qualify for the upcoming NJCAA Division I Men's Golf National Championship being held May 12-15 at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kansas.