NEWTON – The Hutchinson Community College men’s golf team made a move on the final day of the 2012 NJCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championships on Friday at Sand Creek Station, albeit with the highest round of the spring season.
The Blue Dragons carded a final-round 318 on Friday to finish the Championships in 13th place with a team score of 1,246. Hutchinson started the day in 15th place. HCC posted rounds of 303, 316 and 309 in its previous rounds this week.
Hutchinson could never get untracked this week at the same course they played the Fall National Preview, the Jayhawk Championship and District III Championship on this season. Friday’s final round was much the same thing for HCC.
Freshman Ben Cotton shot the low round of the final day of competition for the Blue Dragons, shooting a 5-over 77. Cotton finished tied for 56h at 311.
Sophomore Ryley Haas was the top Blue Dragon placer in the Championships, finishing tied for 37th at 309. Haas had a 7-over 79 on Friday.
Sophomore Mike Muller was tied for 73rd in the Championship. The Region VI champion as a freshman, struggled on Friday with an 88.
Freshman Trey Hayden tied for 86th overall and completed play with an 81.
Freshman Mason Varner completed his first national tournament tied for 105th at 328 after carding an 81 on Friday.
Indian Hills won the team national championship for the second-straight season with a 1,185 team score. Western Texas was second at 1,198. Dodge City was the top Region VI placer at nationals with a seventh-place finish.
Meridian’s Jake Stirling was the individual medalist, shooting a 1-under 71 on Friday to defeat Indian Hills’ Jon Paul Blampied by one stroke. Garden City’s Will Pausell was the top Region VI individual player, trying for eighth at 297.
(HCC Sports Information)
