NMJC (M-Golf) Places 8th at National Preview

The Thunderbirds ended the 2025 fall season with an eighth-place finish at the NJCAA National Preview on Friday, Oct. 31 in Newton, Kan.

The tournament was cut down to a 36-hole event instead of the normal 54-hole standard at the preview.

McLennan CC took home first place honors at 11-under par. Abe Bignell of McLennan won the tournament individually after shooting 8-under. NMJC shot 27-over as a team in eight place.

The top performer for the T-Birds at Sand Creek Station this week was Oliver Ruutu. The sophomore opened with a 1-under 71 and backed up the round with a 2-under 70. Ruutu ended the tournament in a tie for sixth place. 

Samu Kyntola came in 35th place after carding 7-over in 36 holes. The freshman shot a 5-over 77 in Round 1 and a 2-over 74 in Round 2. Sophomore Alfie Mellor opened with a 6-over 78 and then shot a final-round 77. Mellor recorded a T-51 finish to shoot 11-over for the tournament.

Nick Friedrichsen went 82-76 over 36 holes to post 14-over for the week. The sophomore was T-6 in par-5 scoring at 2-under par but finished T-59 in Newton. 

Freshman Severi Varis was the final member counting toward the team score. Varis shot 80-82 to finish tied for 68th at 18-over par.

The T-Birds finished the fall season in Kansas and will get things underway for the spring in late January of 2026.