BOX TIED FOR LEAD HEADING INTO NJCAA FINAL ROUND
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
NEWTON – Early in Thursday's third round of the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship at Sand Creek Station, Hutchinson Community College sophomore Charlie Box trailed Odessa's Adam Bresnu by four strokes for the individual lead.
When Box, the No. 2-ranked golfer in the NJCAA, closed Thursday's round with a birdie, the Blue Dragon sophomore found himself in a tie for first place with Bresnu, who is No. 1 in the national rankings, for the lead heading into Friday's final round.
The Blue Dragons are tied for third after three rounds with Indian Hills at 873, which is 15-strokes off the paces of first-place Midland. The Dragons shot 5-over 293 on Thursday, while Central District rival Indian Hills shot 292. Midland shot even-par 288 on Thursday and is at 858 through three rounds. Odessa is second at 867 after a team round of 296 in the third round.
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S GOLF
NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship
Round: 4
When: Friday, May 16, 2025
Where: Sand Creek Station, Newton, KS
Blue Dragon Tee Times (Hole 1)
11:50 a.m. – Jack Northgraves
12:00 p.m. – Louis Ross
12:10 p.m. – Cory Scullion
12:20 p.m. – Tyler Walker
12:30 p.m. – Charlie Box
Live Scoring: Scoreboard by Clippd
Midland, Odessa and Indian Hills will make up the final group in Friday's final round. The Blue Dragons will play with New Mexico Junior College and Tyler. Hutchinson's tee times will range from 11:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. off hole No. 1.
Both Box and Bresnu are locked in a tight battle for the individual title as 12 golfers are within five strokes of the lead heading into the final 18 holes.
Box shot a 1-under 71 on Thursday, carding five birdies and four bogeys. Box had back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14, but held his round together after playing the front nine at 2-under par with three-straight pars and a birdie on No. 18.
Brensu played the back nine in 5-over par finished with a 2-over 74. Bresnu tees off at 1:20 p.m.
One of those 12 players within five strokes of the lead is Blue Dragon freshman Tyler Walker.
Walker had his third-straight NJCAA round of par of better, carding a 72 on Thursday. Walker had five birdies, five bogeys and eight pars. He is tied for ninth at 1-under 215.
The Blue Dragons also counted scores from sophomore Louis Ross and freshman Jack Northgraves in the third round.
Both Ross and Northgraves had rounds of 75 in the third round. Ross is tied for 56th at 227. Northgraves is tied for 72nd at 230.
Freshman Corey Scullion posted a 77 in the third round. He is tied for 35th at 223.
The Blue Dragons are bidding for their fifth-straight Top 10 national finish, which would extend a program record for Top 10 placings in an NJCAA national tournament.