NMJC (M-Golf) Qualifies for Nationals, Finishes 3rd in Brownwood

The T-Bird men's golf team (+3) finished in third place at the South Central District Championship in Brownwood, Texas on Tuesday, April 29.

The finish automatically qualifies the T-Birds for the NJCAA Men's Golf National Championship May 13-16 in Newton, Kansas.

NMJC trailed Odessa College after the opening round by one shot after shooting a 3-over 291. The T-Birds ended Day 1 with a 1-under 287 to sit at 2-over par. NMJC went into the final round five shots behind second place Midland and eight shot back of first place Odessa.

Elias Pettersson and company fired a final-round 1-over 289 to finish in third at 3-over behind second place Midland at 6-under and first place Odessa at 13-under.

Pettersson was the top performer for NMJC this week coming in fourth place at 5-under. The sophomore shot 70-69-72 over 54 holes and was in the hunt for the individual title the entire tournament. Pettersson ended the week with 13 birdies, an eagle, six bogeys, and two doubles at the par-72 Hideout GC. Midland's Scott Spark won the tournament at 10-under par.

Henry Drake produced one of the more colorful cards in recent memory when he finished T-9 at 1-over this week. Drake was 3-over through his first six holes in Round 1 and closed the next nine holes with seven birdies and a bogey to reach 3-under. A quadruple-double bogey finish had Drake shoot a 3-over 75. 

The sophomore Englishman was 4-over through his first 13 holes in Round 2 and then rattled off five straight birdies to shoot a 1-under 71. Drake's final round featured six birdies including four in a row from holes 7-10. He finished his final round with a 1-under 71 to shoot 1-over for the tournament. Drake finished with 18 birdies on the week. 

Freshman PJ Herron led on Monday after firing an opening-round 69. Herron shot a 3-over 75 in Round 2. Through 36 holes Herron made nine birdies and an eagle. Herron's final round had four bogeys and 14 pars as he shot a 4-over 76 to finish T-16 at 4-over.    

Nick Friedrichsen started his first 36 holes 77-74 to sit at 7-over for the tournament. Friedrichsen shot another 5-over 77 to come in 41st place at 12-over. Freshman Oliver Ruutu only participated in the opening round in his first tournament back from injury. Ruutu was also battling an illness when he shot a first round 12-over 84. 

The T-Birds have the option to substitute at the South Central District Championship like at nationals so they inserted Jake Yrene. The freshman from Albuquerque shot a 1-over 73 in Round 2 and a 2-under 70 in Round 3 to end his tournament at 1-under par.    

The Thunderbirds final tournament of the year will be the NJCAA Men's Golf National Championship May 13-16 in Newton, Kansas at Sand Creek Station.