RECORD ROUND GIVES DRAGONS LEAD AT NATIONALS AFTER DAY 1
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Hutchinson Community College men's golf team had a bit of a shaky start in the opening round of the 2021 NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship on Monday at The Rawls Course.
The Blue Dragons finished with a flourish, though, and leads the national tournament after 18 holes, tying a school record in the process.
Led by freshman Ben Partridge's 5-under 67 and freshman Harry Crockett's 3-under 69, the Blue Dragons shot an 8-under 280 in Monday's first round. Hutchinson leads Midland College and Odessa College by three shots each after 18 holes.
The 280 team score tied the Hutchinson record for a national tournament round, matching the 2006 record of 280 set at the Links at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Monday's round was the best single national tournament round since shooting 288 in the final round at the Duran Golf Club in Melbourne, Florida in 2016.
The Blue Dragons, Midland and Odessa are scheduled to tee off in Tuesday's second round from 1:30 to 2:10 p.m. Because of potential rainy weather, Tuesday tee times might be changed, according to tournament officials.
Starting the tournament on Hole No. 10 with the earliest tee times, the Blue Dragons started 7-over par with six bogeys and one double-bogey. Things quickly turned around as Hutchinson had five birdies, collectively, on Nos. 12 and 13. The Dragons made the turn at 4-over par.
The Blue Dragons started their strong back-nine with six birdies and two bogeys over the next four holes. Then the Dragons caught fire on the final two holes.
Cameron Rios-Ceballos parred the final two holes of his round and Trey McCrae closed with a par and birdie.
Harry Crocket followed with back-to-back birdies, including a 20-foot downhill putt on No. 17. Ben Partridge finished birdie-birdie. Partridge nailed his approach on No 8 to 4 feet.
The only blemish down the stretch was a Charlie Crocket bogey on No. 8.
Partridge's 67 on Monday started with four birdies on the front nine. He bogeyed Nos. 2 and 7 over his final nine holes, but countered with birdies Nos. 3, 8 and 9 to complete his seventh round in the 60s this season.
Partridge is in a three-way tie for second with Jefferson State's Dillon West and Midland's Bladen Samaniego. That trio trails individual leader Wil Adams of Odessa by one stroke.
Harry Crockett started the championship going double-bogey-bogey over his first two holes. He got it back to 2-over at the turn and played the back nine in 4-under to close at 3-under 69. Crockett is also in the Top 10, tied with five others for sixth place.
McCray and Rios-Ceballos are part of a seven-way tie for 18th after even-par 72s.
McCrae had seven birdies and seven bogeys in his first round. Rios-Ceballos started his round with 10 consecutive pars.
Charlie Crockett posted a 4-over 76 on Monday. He is tied for 46th.
Garden City is tied for sixth with Jefferson State at 4-over 292. Dodge City is 16th at 307 and Kansas City is 19th at 315.