Junior Robert Thompson couldn't ask for a better start to the 2025-26 season.

Thompson, a member of the Hillsdale College men's golf team, earned medalist honors for the first time in his collegiate career this past week with a dominant performance, and led the Chargers to the team title at the Malone-Glenmoor Fall Classic in the process. That performance has earned Thompson another career first, as the junior was recognized by the Great Midwest Athletic Conference office as the G-MAC Men's Golfer of the Week on Monday afternoon. It's Thompson's first career weekly conference honor and Hillsdale's first in more than five years.

The junior lit up the course at the Glenmoor Country Club on September 8 and 9, shooting a 73-67-68 to finish with an eight-under par 208 and beat the rest of the field by four strokes. In the process, Thompson nearly set a record, finishing just one stroke off tying the program record of nine-under-par set by Joel Pietila in 2017. Thompson moved into second place in round two with seven birdies to sit a stroke behind the leader entering the final round, and then had a near-flawless performance on championship Tuesday with three birdies, an eagle and just one bogey to run away with medalist honors.

It's a well-deserved win for Thompson, who had a runner-up finish in 2024 where he was tied for the lead after 54 holes before coming up short in a playoff. With an added year of experience, Thompson left no doubts in 2025, keeping any competition well behind him for the duration of the final round.

The team championship was Hillsdale's first since winning the Malone-Glenmoor Fall Classic in 2023, and an auspicious start for the Chargers, who are looking to build off a NCAA DII Super Regional appearance in 2024-25. 

Thompson and Hillsdale will look for another victory next week, when the Chargers travel to Broadmoor Country Club for the UIndy Fall Classic, scheduled to be played Sept. 22 and 23.