PLYMOUTH, Ind. – Vincennes University was well represented at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Golf National Championships this week at Swan Lake Resort by sophomore Bryce Kirchner.

Kirchner finished the four-round tournament with a +17, 305, which was good for 35th place among the 115 competitors who played all four rounds.

Kirchner got off to a great start in Round One Tuesday afternoon, picking up a birdie on the fourth hole.

Bryce slid back a little with five bogeys in seven holes, before picking up a pair of birdies at the end of the round to head into the clubhouse with a +2, 72.

"I was a little concerned with Bryce missed a three-foot putt on the first hole for birdie and thought that might get into his head," VU Golf coach Dennis Chattin said. "But he stayed solid and didn't let it bother him."

"Again, in the middle of the round he had some bogies and could have let that bother him as he slipped to +4 but he battled back with back-to-back birdies and then finished with two solid pars for a 74."

Kirchner had an early tee time Wednesday for Round Two of 7:18 a.m. eastern. Bryce got right to work early with a birdie on hole one.

Kirchner would finish round two with a +6, 78, which put him at 37th on the leaderboard midway through the tournament.

"Bryce didn't play as well Wednesday. After a great start, birdieing hole No. 1, he just had one of those rounds in golf where it was hard to score."

"You will always miss some shots in golf, even in the best of rounds, but all misses are not created equal. He had one of those rounds where his misses ended up in tough spots."

"When he missed a fairway, it wasn't in a spot to allow him to hit greens in a favorable spot relative to the pin. When he missed a green, it seemed like he didn't have an easy up and down. He was either short sided or had to chip down a big nob on the green."

"All in all, he didn't play badly, just didn't seem to get many breaks. He was still in the top-third of the field and on the National level, that's pretty good."

"Most people don't understand what it's like to play college or professional golf where you have a 6 a.m. breakfast for a 7:18 a.m. tee time. One day you have to perform at your peak at 7 a.m. and the next day you may be completing a round at 7 p.m."

Bryce came battled back in Round Three, finishing the day with a +4, 76, including a birdie on 15.

"Bryce had a really solid Round Three with five bogies and a birdie," Chattin added. "Conditions Thursday were windy and warm. Bryce was never really in any trouble, but once again the greens proved to be the tough part of the course for Bryce. He didn't putt badly, just didn't make any long putts to move his score lower."

The tournament concluded Friday afternoon and Kirchner was looking to climb up the board a couple extra spots, starting the round with six straight pars.

Bryce would finish his final round of the Championships with a +5, 77, giving him a total tournament score of +17, 305 and a 35th-place finish.

"I thought he played well, represented himself and VU well," Chattin added. "He played really consistently; he just didn't have the birdies to move up. He finished the tournament with 44 pars and the tournament winner had 47, Bryce just didn't get the birdies. Bryce also finished the tournament without a double bogey or worse, which in a four-round tournament is outstanding."

"We're looking forward to having Bryce back next year. He's an excellent student and will likely be an Academic All-American and we've enjoyed having him on the team."