PARTRIDGE WINS MICKELSON TOP FRESHMAN AWARD

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Hutchinson Community College freshman and 2021 NJCAA national champion golfer Ben Partridge earned yet another major award on Monday by the Golf Coaches Association of America, being named the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman of the Year for NJCAA Division I golfers.

Partridge, a freshman from London, England, helped the Blue Dragon men win the 2021 NJCAA Division I Men's Golf team championship, the program's first in its history in mid-May in Lubbock, Texas. Also, Partridge became the program's first individual national champion, defeating teammate Harry Crockett in a four-hole playoff.

In addition to the team and individual national championships, Partridge has won numerous other awards this season:
+ He was the Jayhawk Conference co-champion for the 2021 season.
+ He was first-team All-KJCCCC, All-Region VI and NJCAA All-American.
+ He was named a PING first-team All-American
+ He was named the Jack Nicklaus NJCAA Division I Player of the Year by the GCAA.
+ According to GolfStat, he was the No. 1-ranked player in the NJCAA this past season.

Partridge had a season stroke average in 2020-21 of 71.2 over 29 rounds played over the combined fall and spring seasons. Partridge had two tournament victories, six Top-3 finishes and placed in the Top 10 in 9 of 10 total tournaments this season.

Teammate Harry Crockett, Western Texas' Russel Dettmering, Eastern Florida's Matt Gauntlet, Sam McKenzie of Midland and Brendan Thomas of Eastern Wyoming joined Partridge on the 2021 All-Freshman team.