Alex Navarro Set to Compete at NJCAA Division II Men’s Golf Tournament

WESSON – The Co-Lin Men's Golf team narrowly missed qualifying for the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Tournament with a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA District D Tournament. Despite that, the Wolves will have one member of the team in the national tournament field as sophomore Alex Navarro qualified as an individual after shooting a 148 (74-74) to finish sixth overall.

Navarro returns to the national tournament after ending his freshman season with an appearance at the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Tournament at Twin Hill Country Club in Joplin, MO last May where he finished 11th overall and earned NJCAA Second Team All-American honors. However, this year Navarro will play at a different course as the tournament is set to be played at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, IN.

Co-Lin head coach Allen Kent says Navarro's competitiveness is one thing that his him ready for the challenge he will face at the national tournament.

"Alex is the ultimate competitor, and it doesn't matter if it's just playing practice rounds with his teammates or having chipping and putting contests he wants to win and he finds ways to grind things out to get those wins," stated Kent. "One thing that I think he will have to make an adjustment on is that the greens on the course are a different style than what he is used to playing on, but the practice rounds before the tournament should help him overcome that."

Navarro said he is excited about going back to the national tournament and that he feels his play all season has helped him get ready to play well on the biggest stage for the Wolves.

"I think this year is going to be a good experience and that the experience from playing last year will be beneficial," stated Navarro. "Even though these are players that I am not really familiar with for the most part minus the other golfers from Mississippi, I am confident that I can go out and hopefully finish as well or better than last year."

Navarro said he is maintaining his focus on one big thing during his time at the tournament.

"I must remain focused on playing my game and staying within my ability. If I do that then I know that I will come out with a good result, but I also want to play my best and hopefully be able to play well enough to play in the final group in the final round," added Navarro.

"Alex takes chances out on the course that many other golfers won't and even though it's a little scary for me as his coach I like the fact that when he makes up his mind, he goes with it and takes the results that come and that is something that has set him apart from many other golfers," added Kent. "We are both excited about what this means for not only Alex as a golfer, but also for Co-Lin as a program to be able to say we have had someone compete in the national tournament in back-to-back seasons."

There will be approximately 125 golfers competing in the tournament in both team and individual competitions as 40 junior/community colleges from across the nation will be represented during the four-day tournament at Swan Lake Resort where they will be competing on one of two courses at the resort. The Black Course (site of the tournament) at Swan Lake Resort measures 7112 yards with a course rating of 74.2 and slope rating of 129.

The golfers will have two practice rounds one each on Sunday, May 21, and Monday, May 22, while the four rounds of tournament play will occur from Tuesday, May 23 through Friday, May 26.