T-Birds (M-Golf) Places 8th at the 2024 NJCAA National Preview
October 25, 2024

T-Birds (M-Golf) Places 8th at the 2024 NJCAA National Preview

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The NMJC men's golf team placed eighth overall at the NJCAA National Preview on Friday, Oct. 25 at Sand Creek Station.

The Thunderbirds (+55) finished behind first place Hutchinson CC (+21), second place Western Texas (+41), third place McLennan CC (+45), third place Garden City (+45), fifth place Odessa (+49), sixth place Dodge City (+54), and sixth place Indian Hills (+54).

The T-Birds finished the windy 54 holes with rounds of 299 (+11), 315 (+27), and 306 (+17).

Sophomore Elias Pettersson shot the only under par score of the tournament for NMJC in Round 1 with his 1-under 71. Pettersson followed that performance up with a 4-over 76 to complete Day 1 at 3-over. The Swede shot 75 in the final round to finish the tournament at 6-over par and in a tie for sixth place at the preview. Pettersson led the field in pars with 38 and was seventh in field in par 3 scoring at 3.00.

Oliver Ruutu was consistent for the T-Birds throughout his three rounds of play. Ruutu opened with a 3-over 75 and followed up the performance with a 4-over 76. The Finn's final-round 74 (+2) earned Ruutu a 10th-place finish at 9-over. Ruutu was seventh in field in par 3 scoring at 3.00 and sixth in the field in birdies with 10.

Henry Drake posted rounds of 78-79 on Day 1 in Newton, Kan. to sit at 13-over following the 36-hole action. Drake recorded a 6-over final-round 78 to move to 19-over par for the tournament and place T-33. The Englishman ended the final round in a tie for 33rd place. Drake was second in the field in birdies with 11. 

Sophomore Andrew Park had a tale of two rounds on Day 1. Park shot a 4-over 76 in the first round, however he struggled in the second round and could not right the ship as he shot a 12-over 84. Park registered a 6-over final-round 78 to slide to 22-over par for the tournament and place T-44.

Freshman Jake Yrene was one off being identical to Park throughout the tournament. Yrene fired a 5-over 77 in Round 1 and struggled in Round 2 with a 13-over 85. The New Mexico native finished the final round with a 7-over 79 to place T-52 at 25-over.

The Thunderbirds will finish the fall season at the Odessa Country Club Old Course in Odessa, Texas when they compete at the Paul Chavez Invitational.