T-Bird (W-Golf) Finishes 4th at NJCAA Championship, Earns Sportsmanship Award
The NMJC women's golf team finished in fourth place at the NJCAA DI Women's Golf Championship in Garden City, Kan., on Thursday, May 15.
The T-Birds shot a 24-over par 312 in the final round to finish the week at 84-over par and record their best finish in program history. NMJC placed fifth overall in their inaugural season in 2024.
Region V foe Odessa College won the championship at 30-over, Seminole State closed the tournament in second place at 48-over par, Daytona State was third at 57-over. Thursday was the first time since 2012 a non-Florida school did not win the championship.
Napajira Nami Luesattha of Odessa College won the tournament at 9-under.
The T-Birds shot 314 (+26) in Round 1, 302 (+14) in Round 2, 308 (+20) in Round 3, and a 312 (+24) in Round 4 to record a 72-hole total of 1236 (+84). The 1236 score breaks the previous 72-hole school record of 1238 strokes.
Olivia Heard finished her tournament in a tie for 21st place at 21-over par following her 9-over 81 in the final round. Heard had a difficult time to start her opening nine making five bogeys, two doubles, a birdie, and a par to go out in 44 (+8). The sophomore settled down on the back nine making six pars, two bogeys, and a birdie to come in at 1-over and post a final-round 81. Heard ended her Thunderbird career at 21-over after recording a 72-hole total of 78-71-79-81.
Hinano Kishida posted a 7-over 79 in the final round to finish T-24 at 22-over in Garden City. The sophomore entered the final round at 15-over par with rounds of 74-76-81. The first three holes did not go to plan as Kishida went double-double-bogey to start. NMJC was a combined 12-over in their first two holes on Thursday.
Birdies on hole No. 4 and No. 7 righted the ship. Kishida went bogey-par to finish her front nine at 4-over. The Nagano, Japan native recorded three bogeys, three pars, two birdies, and a double to shoot 3-over on the back and end the NJCAA DI Women's Golf Championship with a 7-over 79.
Nanami Hayakawa finished her sophomore campaign T-24 at 22-over. Hayakawa shot 83-75-77-76 over 72 holes this week. The Okaya-Nagano, Japan native led the T-Birds in the final round with her 4-over 76. Hayakawa bogeyed hole No. 1 and No. 5 to shoot 38 (+2) on the front. The back's only blemish was a double on No. 16 as she shot 38 again to finish the day at 4-over and in a tie for 24th place.
Giuliana Frutos finished her first season with the T-Birds in a tie for 38th place at 29-over following rounds of 80-81-77-80. Frutos was 6-over after a 42 on the front nine. The Paraguayan found her stride on the back nine recording two bogeys and seven pars to finish with a 2-over 38 and post an 8-over final-round 80.
Wawa Booncharn finished her career with the T-Birds in a tie for 38th place at 29-over par. The sophomore shot 84-80-76-77 through 72 holes. Booncharn was 1-over after nine holes, recording two bogeys and birdie. The Bangkok, Thailand native bogeyed holes 11 and 13 and made double on No. 15. Booncharn closed her last three holes with pars to shoot a 5-over final-round 77.
NMJC also took home the tournament's sportsmanship award following final round action at Buffalo Dunes GC.
The award recognizes a team's overall sportsmanship, including their conduct towards teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials throughout the tournament.
The second year under head coach Kendalyn Ferguson saw the women's team end the year with four individual titles, a school-record four team wins, and a second straight top-5 finish at the NJCAA DI Women's Golf Championship.
T-Bird fans can see the final results by clicking here and follow NMJC women's golf's Instagram @nmjc_wgolf for more content.
