Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Julia Bice '22,M'24 - @jb.jpg10
Men's Golf: Signing Class 'An Exceptionally Talented Group'
1/21/2026 10:31:00 AM | Men's Golf
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan men's golf coach Kevin Jennings has announced the signing of four student-athletes who comprise his Class of 2026 signees.
"This is an exceptionally talented group," said Jennings, who resurrected the program in 2022-23. "They're intelligent human beings who prove it through their academics, and their high grade point averages are a good indicator that they are hard-working young men.
"They're coachable and intelligent and will be very good representatives of their respective families, of Central Michigan University, and of our golf program."
The quartet comprises a pair of Californians and two Canadians, one from Ontario, the other from Quebec.
The Californians are David Navarro of Richmond and Benjamin Shin of Diamond Bar; the Canadians are Dimitri Protopapas of Innisfil, Ont. and Edouard Laflamme of Quebec City, Que.
All four will be eligible for the fall, 2026 season.
"This group is going to allow us to move the needle," Jennings said. "They understand who we are and where we are as a program and where we want to be. It takes a special kind of person to be a trailblazer.
"This group fits in with all of the individuals that we have brought in from the beginning; they want to help to establish something and be a part of something where we're competitive locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally.
"We're continually trying to elevate and bring in competitive individuals, and these four are going to be comfortable in highly competitive environments. With the quality of student-athlete that we're bringing into the program and the continued support of the community and from our alumni, we're very excited about what we're doing now and what we have going with regard to the future."
"This is an exceptionally talented group," said Jennings, who resurrected the program in 2022-23. "They're intelligent human beings who prove it through their academics, and their high grade point averages are a good indicator that they are hard-working young men.
"They're coachable and intelligent and will be very good representatives of their respective families, of Central Michigan University, and of our golf program."
The quartet comprises a pair of Californians and two Canadians, one from Ontario, the other from Quebec.
The Californians are David Navarro of Richmond and Benjamin Shin of Diamond Bar; the Canadians are Dimitri Protopapas of Innisfil, Ont. and Edouard Laflamme of Quebec City, Que.
All four will be eligible for the fall, 2026 season.
"This group is going to allow us to move the needle," Jennings said. "They understand who we are and where we are as a program and where we want to be. It takes a special kind of person to be a trailblazer.
"This group fits in with all of the individuals that we have brought in from the beginning; they want to help to establish something and be a part of something where we're competitive locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally.
"We're continually trying to elevate and bring in competitive individuals, and these four are going to be comfortable in highly competitive environments. With the quality of student-athlete that we're bringing into the program and the continued support of the community and from our alumni, we're very excited about what we're doing now and what we have going with regard to the future."
Edouard Laflamme • Quebec City, Que., Canada • Cegep College Champlain-St. Lawrence
Finished T3 in RSEQ Collegial Provincial championship and Golf Quebec Order of Merit champion … won the Notah Begay III Canadian Championship with a 3-under 142 (68-69) … shot a 2-over 146 (75-71) to win the 3rd Annual TJGT Longleaf Junior Open … had eight top-five finishes during the 2025 season and earned All-Canadian honors at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Championship … earned Rookie of the Year Award at Cegep College Champlain-St. Lawrence … also plays hockey and has played baseball and football (quarterback) … plans to major in accounting.
David Navarro • Richmond, Calif. • El Cerrito High School
Posted two top-three finishes and five top-10 finishes in Junior Golf Association of Northern California in 2025 … shot 66 en route to winning Monterey Pines Tour Championship … posted a tie for first, a T8 and a T9 in Junior Tour of Northern California events in 2025 … shot even-par 71-73 – 144 to win the Bumgardner Memorial Junior in Modesto, Calif. in July, 2025 … four-time Tri-County Athletic League selection … four-time California Interscholastic Federation North Coast Sectional qualifier … four-year captain of El Cerrito High School golf team … on track to graduate with a 3.8 grade point average.
Dimitri Protopapas • Innisfil, Ont. • Maple Ridge Secondary
Member of Team Ontario … Ontario Junior Match Play champion, winning six matches at The Nest at Friday Harbour … shot 12-under 276 (73-66-68-69) to finish T5 in 144-player field at 2025 Ontario Junior Amateur … shot 5-under 68-67 for a T3 finish in 60-player field at 2025 Ontario Juvenile Championship … No. 4400 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking … finished T34 in 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship … shot 1-under 71 to finish first in 60-player field in 2025 Ontario Junior Spring Classic qualifier … finished T10 in 60-player field with a 2-over 74 in 2025 Ontario Match Play qualifier … finished T4 in 80-player field in 2025 Ontario Men's Amateur qualifier … finished T4 in 83-player field at Future Championship Golf (FCG) 15th Annual Las Vegas Championship … finished T13 in 61-player field in 2025 Ontario Junior Players Invitational … posted top-50 finish in 2024 FCG Callaway World Championship … finished T13 among 60 players in 2024 U17 Ontario Junior Championship … finished fifth in 60-player field in 2024 Ontario Summer Games… shot 3-under 68 to capture medalist honors in 2023 Ontario Junior Match Play qualifier … Maple Ridge senior golf team Most Valuable Player Award winner … helped Maple Ridge to AAA hockey provincial championship.
Benjamin Shin • Diamond Bar, Calif. • Acellus Academy (Kansas City, Mo.)
Tied for third with a 5-under 137 (68-69) in 77-player field in the Toyota Tour Cup at River Ridge Golf Course in Vineyard Course in Oxnard, Calif. Nov. 8-9, 2025) … shot 73-75-68 – 216 for a T20 in the Future Championship Golf (FCG) National Championship Dec. 28-30, 2025 at Arrowood Golf Club in Oceanside, Calif. … finished 18th (67-75-78 – 220) in American Junior Golf Association Albany Junior presented by UHY … shot a 2-under 142 (68-74) to win The Players Tour at Palm Desert Resort (Calif.) Country Club … shot a 4-under 140 (69-71) to place second in the National Tour Fall Championship at Temecula Creek Inn (Calif.) Golf Club … has a 73.12 scoring average and a plus-1.8 handicap (index); ranked 343 by the American Junior Golf Association … parents are Andrew and Stephanie Shin … on track to graduate in May, 2026 with a 3.7 grade point average.
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