ARDMORE, Okla. - Fresh off helping the Murray State College men's golf team capture its first NJCAA Division II National Championship, freshman Connor Tallentire added two of the sport's most prestigious individual honors to his remarkable 2025-26 campaign.

Tallentire was named the recipient of the NJCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine, while also earning the NJCAA Division II Arnold Palmer National Invitational Award as the national individual champion.

The England native became the first Aggie in program history to claim the Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award after surviving a dramatic final round at the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship in Plymouth, Indiana. Tallentire entered the final round with a one-shot lead and delivered clutch birdies on the par-5 15th and 18th holes to secure the national title by one stroke over Meridian's Jace Duckworth.

Tallentire finished the tournament at one-under-par 287 with rounds of 67, 70, 74, and 76 while recording 15 total birdies across the four-day championship. His performance also earned him PING First Team All-America honors.

The victory marked Tallentire's third tournament win of the season and capped one of the most accomplished freshman campaigns in program history.

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Tallentire compiled nine top-10 finishes, including seven finishes inside the top five. The freshman sensation earned his first collegiate victory as co-medalist at the Fall Aggie Invitational before capturing an eight-shot victory at the Charles Cooper Classic later in the fall.

His historic freshman season played a major role in Murray State College capturing the program's first NJCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship, cementing Tallentire's place ahead of the top junior college golfers in the country this season.

Sports Information Director: Justin Wagner | jgwagner@mscok.edu
Aggie Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Murray State College Golf: Facebook | Instagram