T-Bird (M-Golf) Finishes 5th in Andrews, Varis Ties for 3rd

The Thunderbirds finished their first tournament of the fall in fifth place after firing a 14-under 36-hole total of 562.

Host Midland College won Andrews Collegiate Am at 30-under, Wayland Baptist was second at 28-under, Odessa College in third at 27-under, and McLennan College in fourth at 25-under. McLennan's Robert Gonzalez was the individual champion shooting 67-67 to post 10-under at the par 72 Andrews GC.   

Freshman Severi Varis was the top finisher for NMJC in Andrews, Texas shooting back-to-back-68s to finish T-3 at 8-under in his Thunderbird debut. Varis made five birdies in Round 1 and four birdies and an eagle in Round 2. 

Sophomore Oliver Ruutu shot a 1-under 71 in Round 1 and followed it up with a 5-under 67 to finish T-11 at 6-under par. Ruutu carded four birdies in the first round and six birdies in Round 2.

Sophomore Nick Friedrichsen ended his tournament tied for 20th place after shooting rounds of 69 and 72 to finish at 3-under par. 

Tristan Kolasinski shot a 1-over 73 in his first round in a Thunderbird uniform. The freshman's second round was a 3-over 75 that featured an eagle on his way to a 30th-place finish. 

Freshman Riley Apodaca shot an even-par 72 in Round 1; however, his second round was a struggle as he shot a 6-over 78 to finish T-32.

Alfie Mellor was the lone individual for the T-Birds this weekend. The sophomore shot a 3-under 69 in Round 1 and a 3-over 75 in Round 2 to place T-27. 

The Thunderbirds take the week off and then will be back in action Sept. 15-16 at the Waco River Classic in Waco, Texas.