DRAGONS TIED FOR 9TH; BOX TIED FOR 5TH ENTERING NJCAA FINAL ROUND
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
HOBBS, New Mexico – Led by freshman Charlie Box's second under-par round of the tournament, the Hutchinson Community College men's golf team posted its best round of the 2024 NJCAA Division I Championships in Thursday's third round.
Shooting a 4-over-par 288 on Thursday, the Blue Dragons are tied with Indian Hills for ninth place after 54 holes at 870.
The Blue Dragons have improved in each round this week with team rounds of 293, 289 and 288.
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S GOLF
NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship Round 4
When: Friday, May 17, 2024
Where: Rockwind Community Links
Live scoring: GolfStat.com
Blue Dragon tee times: 11:57 a.m. to 12:23 p.m. CT
The Blue Dragons will be paired with Eastern Arizona and Tyler Junior College for Friday's final round. The Blue Dragons, Gila Monsters and Apaches will tee off between 11:57 a.m. and 12:23 p.m. CT.
Hutchinson enters Friday's final round 19 strokes off the pace of tri-team leaders New Mexico Junior College, Midland College and Odessa College. Those teams are at 851. The Dragons are just nine strokes out of fourth place.
Hutchinson has a streak of a program-best three-straight Top 5 national finishes with national championships in 2021 and 2022 and a fifth-place performances last season.
Two Blue Dragons are within reach of earning NJCAA All-America honors with 18 holes to play.
Box carded a 2-under 69 and is tied for fifth place at 4-under 209. Sophomore Marco Anderson is tied for 15th at 1-over 2014. Anderson shot a 3-over 74 on Thursday.
The top 18 individuals earn NJCAA All-America honors.
In addition to Box and Anderson, the Blue Dragons counted David Razinskas' even-par 71 and Louis Ross' 74 to post their 288 team score on Thursday.
The Blue Dragons trail Jayhawk Conference and Region 6 rival Dodge City by four strokes entering the final round. The Conquistadors posted a 290 team score on Thursday.
Box was once again steady with four birdies and two bogeys' He parred his final six holes to complete the Back 9 in 2-under par.
Box is tied with McLennan's Nik Blalock at 209. Those golfers sit six strokes off the pace of individual leader Mans Boje of Ranger College, who shot his second-straight 67 on Thursday to lead the tournament at 10-under 203.
Anderson has mixed results in his third round. He had three birdies, but six bogeys to complete his round 3-over par. Anderson is part of an eight-way tie for 15th place through 54 holes.
Razinskas posted his best round of the national tournament at even-par 71. Playing 1-under through 10 holes, Razinskas' bogeyed No. 11 and suffered a double bogey on No. 15, but got his round back to even with a clutch birdie on No. 17. Razinskas is tied for 86th at 230.
Ross had his best round of the tournament at 3-over 74 with four birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey. Ross is tied for 80th at 229.
Freshman Keaton Thissen had a tough start playing the Front 9 in 6-over par. He played the Back 9 at even par for a 77 on Thursday. Thissen is tied for 69th at 226.