Ottumwa, IA – Miles Bollinger (Eagan, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) of the Indian Hills Men's Golf team has been awarded the 2026 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Men's Golf Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman of the Year honor, announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

Bollinger starred for the Warriors in his debut season at Indian Hills, guiding the program to a national runner-up finish while placing second overall as an individual at the 2026 NJCAA DI Men's Golf National Championship at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, KS. Bollinger becomes the fifth Indian Hills Men's Golf student-athlete since 2011, and first since 2017, to earn the award, joining Ricky Sanders (2017), Jackson Bugdalski (2016), Ben Ludlam (2012), and Steven Ihm (20110.

Bollinger made an immediate impact for the Warriors, securing six individual top-10 finishes on the year, including four inside the top-three. The freshman took home medalist honors at the Western Illinois Intercollegiate in Silvis, IL in April.

Bollinger surged down the stretch during the spring season. After the win in Silvis, Bollinger placed third overall at the NJCAA Central District Championship in Springfield, MO to lead the Warriors to the title.

At the NJCAA National Championship, Bollinger carried the clubhouse lead into the final round. The freshman finished the four-day event with a 2-under par to place second overall. For his efforts at the national tournament, Bollinger earned a spot on the All-Tournament team as well as NJCAA All-American honors.

Bollinger, a two-time ICCAC Athlete of the Week, was also previously named to the 2026 NJCAA DI PING Central District team.

In addition to the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman of the Year honor, Bollinger was one of four members of the Indian Hills squad to earn 2026 NJCAA DI Men's Golf PING All-American honors.

Read More: Four Named PING All-Americans

Along with Bollinger, fellow freshman Harry McArdle (Burren, Ireland/St. Colman's College) was named to the GCAA All-Freshman team. The duo were two of just five individuals across the nation to be selected to the GCAA All-Freshman team.

The Warriors placed second overall at the 2026 NJCAA DI Men's Golf National Championship in Newton, KS, the program's 12th time finishing first or second at the national tournament.

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