MCC golfers finish 24th at NJCAA national tourney

ODESSA, Texas – The McCook Community College golf team finished the final round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship tournament with a 308 and finished 24th among the 24 teams competing.

“Obviously this is not what we wanted or what I expected but the competition was extremely tough and we didn't play very well at all,” said MCC Coach Tyler Loop.

Estrella Mountain Community College jumped past MCC Friday shooting a final round 297 to finish seven shots ahead of MCC.

“It was a good experience that will be used to make us better in the future,” Loop said.

Northeastern Junior College from Region IX, shot a final round 304 to finish 22nd and Eastern Wyoming shot a 294 and finished 16th in the tournament.

Hutchinson Community College won the tournament shooting 22-under par, two shots better than runner-up Odessa. The champions shot rounds of 284 and three straight days of 282. Midland Community College was third at one-under for the tournament.

Ethan Gough (Hillcrest, South Africa) posted the lowest score of the day for MCC and it turned out to be the lowest round of the tournament by any MCC player shooting an even-par 72 on the day. His nine-over-par (297) for the tournament placed him in a tie for 51st.

Payton Craw (McCook) also carded his best round of the tournament Friday shooting a 75. He finished second on the team with a 312

“I enjoyed coaching these men very much this year and they represented themselves and our school very well,” Loop said.

Cayden Wynne (Lincoln Southwest) shot a final round 78 and finished third on the team with a four-day total of 322. Jordan Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) finished his week with a 79 and finished the tournament at 324. Brayden Dahl (Hillcrest, South Africa) hit an 82 Friday and capped his week at 326.

“All five of these players along with a couple more will return in the fall and if they iron out some of the weaknesses that were exposed this week, we'll be a very strong team,” Loop said.

JT Pittman of Midland CC and Dominic Clemons of Hutchinson tied for the individual title, both shooting seven-under par, 281s. Ben Partridge of Hutchinson was third at six-under.

NJCAA D1 NATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

1. Hutchinson CC - 22 284-282-282-282 – 1,130

2. Odessa CC (Texas) - 2 287-303-279-281 – 1,150

3. Midland CC (Texas) - 1 291-297-284-279 – 1,151

4. New Mexico JC E 288-297-278-289 – 1,152

5. E. Florida State + 5 288-297-283-289 – 1,157

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16. Eastern Wyoming +37 295-303-297-294 – 1,189

22. Northeastern JC +86 314-324-306-304 – 1,238

24. McCook CC +94 322-310-304-308 – 1,246

MCC FINAL TOURNAMENT SCORES

T51. Ethan Gough + 9 75-77-73-72 – 297

T108. Brayden Dahl +38 88-77-79-82 – 326

T104. Cayden Wynne +34 83-83-73-78 – 322

107. Jordan Bingham +36 85-79-81-79 – 324

T92. Payton Craw +24 79-77-81-75 – 312