T-Birds finish second at WJCAC Championships
NMJC's Ayre claims second, Sanchez fourth
SEMINOLE, Texas — The No. 19 New Mexico Junior College men's golf team may have found its groove just at the right time as the Thunderbirds shot a season-best 14-under-par and took second at the WJCAC Championships on Thursday at Gaines County Golf Course.
NMJC shot a 562 at the two-round event and finished just two strokes behind top-ranked and tournament winner Odessa College (560).
"It's been a process and these guys have bought in," Berry said. "I told them from the start that we don't want to be playing our best until April. Since (winter) break, everyone has bought in and are doing the things I'm asking them to do. You can't do this with one or two guys. You have to have consistency up and down the team – one through five – and we had that today."
Jordan Ayre paced NMJC with a second-place finish at the event – shooting a sizzling 7-under-par 137 (70-67).
Teammate Marty Sanchez wasn't far behind as his second-round 66 helped him finish with a 5-under 139 (73-66) to take fourth at the event.
"Marty and Jordan have been the anchors to this team and they kept doing their thing," Berry said. "But without what the other guys shot, we wouldn't have done so well. You are doing pretty well if you are throwing out a 73."
NMJC's Ben Myatt was three strokes back of Sanchez with a 2-under 142 (71-71) and was followed by Daniel Eagle (144 – 71-73), Cody Buffalo (147 – 74-73) and Wyatt Beard (161 – 84-79).
The T-Birds next compete in Tulsa, Okla., at an event hosted by Oral Roberts on April 13-14 where NMJC will face several NCAA Division-I schools.
