PLYMOUTH, Ind. – Vincennes University freshman golfer Landon Gardner (Danville, Ind.) represented Vincennes University well this week as an individual qualifier at the 2025 NJCAA Division II National Championships.
Gardner took part in the 72-hole, four day tournament hosted at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind.
The tournament began with the opening round Tuesday, May 20 with Gardner getting a very early start as part of the second group of golfers on the course.
Gardner had to battle some tough early rainy conditions finishing the first nine holes at seven over before bouncing back strong to play the back nine at two over to finish the first day of competition with an opening round 81.
Gardner then got a late start to his second round with some of the field needing to finish their first rounds and the rainy conditions continuing into Wednesday.
Gardner continued this strong play Wednesday starting the second round with three birdies on the front nine to shoot a one-over 37.
Play was suspended due to darkness with Gardner only finishing the first nine holes.
Gardner returned to the course Thursday to finish his second round, coming away with a four-over back nine to finish the second round with a five over 77.
Gardner made his biggest move up the leaderboard Thursday as he continued play with the third round.
Gardner opened his third round with a birdie on hole one and came away with a very solid even par front nine in round three.
Gardner kept the strong play going in the back nine, holding firm at two-over through 16 before fatigue set in, playing 27 holes in a National Championship environment in one day, finishing the third round at six over 78.
Gardner came back Friday for the final round and looked to continue his climb up the leaderboard.
Gardner opened the final day of competition with a two-over par front nine before closing the week just as strong with a three-over back nine including a birdie to finish the final round at five over 77.
Gardner finished the four-round tournament with a final score of 25 over par, finishing in a tie for 56th place overall, seventh among individual qualifiers, with a final tournament total of 313.
“Overall Landon had a good performance in the National Championship at Swan Lake,” VU Hall of Fame Golf Coach Dennis Chattin said. “His scores put him in the top half of al 124 players.”
“He got a bit of a bad draw as far as tee times were concerned when his first day was 7:09 in the morning when it was raining really hard,” Chattin added. “He was five over through the first five holes in that pouring rain and wind. He battled well but that was his worst nine of the tournament with a 43.”
“The tournament was filled with rain, cold and wind with four rain and lightning delays and the final day with a frost delay but I was proud of the way he battled through it,” Chattin said. “Obviously because it was the National Championship, there were some very good players in it and for a freshman, I felt he handled the pressure well.”
Overall it was a pretty successful season for the Vincennes University Golf team with the Trailblazers looking to build on their success this year and come back next season even stronger.
“We have four of our top five players back next season,” Chattin said. “So hopefully he will be able to go back with teammates next year.”
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came away with the team National Championship with Stanley Campbell of Mississippi Gulf Coast earning medalist honors for the week.
