Wabash College freshman Leo Dellinger is the first Little Giants golfer to earn North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year honors after a strong first season with the Little Giants. Dellinger also earned a spot on the 2026 All-NCAC Third Team, the conference announced Monday. 

Dellinger played 22 rounds over nine tournaments, finishing the season with a 75.23 scoring average and a 601-238 head-to-head record. He recorded four top-10 finishes, including three top-six efforts during the spring portion of the schedule.

He opened his collegiate career by tying for second place at the Transylvania Fall Invitational, shooting an even-par 216 with rounds of 75, 71 and 70. Dellinger added a tie for seventh place at the Timbergate Preview with a 147, tied for sixth at the Discover DeKalb Emory Invitational with a 220, and placed sixth at the DePauw Spring Clash with a 142.

Dellinger closed the season by tying for 11th place at the 2026 NCAC Championship at Avalon Lakes Golf Club in Warren, Ohio. He improved each round, shooting 79, 76 and 74 for a 229 total.

His top rounds of the season included a pair of 70s at the Transylvania Fall Invitational and the DePauw Spring Clash, a 71 at Transylvania, and rounds of 72 at the Wabash College Invitational, Discover DeKalb Emory Invitational and DePauw Spring Clash.

Dellinger finished the season as the 11th-ranked golfer among conference players. He also ranked No. 33 in Region V and No. 184 nationally in NCAA Division III with a 74.2 scoring average.