NEWTON – While the last three holes on Wednesday were played in 2-under par, the first 15 holes were far less successful for the Hutchinson Community College men’s gold team during the second round of the 2012 NJCAA Division I Championships at Sand Creek Station.
The Blue Dragons tied for their highest team round of the spring season on Wednesday with a team score of 316. Hutchinson is tied for 16th-place with Wallace State with 609 team totals at the tournament’s midway point. The Dragons trail team leader by 33 strokes.
Entering play on Wednesday, the Blue Dragons were just 11 strokes off the team lead, but the first two holes of the second round quickly and dramatically changed the course of the entire round. The Dragons had three double bogeys and three bogeys on holes 1 and 2.
The entire front nine didn’t get much better as collectively the Blue Dragons made the turn at 15-over with only one birdie among the fifth players.
Sophomore Mike Muller is the top Blue Dragon through 36 holes. Muller is tied for 47th at 8-over 152 after posing a second-straight 76 in the second round. Muller had a round with two birdies and six bogeys on Wednesday.
Sophomore Ryley Haas had an 80 in the second round and is tied for 79th at 157. Freshmen Ben Cotton and Trey Hayden are both tied for 82nd at 158. Hayden improved four strokes in the second round with a 5-over 77. Cotton had a tough day with an 85.
Freshman Mason Varner carded an 83 on Wednesday and is tied for 98th at 160.
Tee times for Wednesday are: 9 a.m. – Hayden; 9:09 a.m. – Varner; 9:18 a.m. – Muller; 9:27 a.m. – Cotton; 9:36 a.m. – Haas.
(HCC Sports Information)
