T-Bird (W-Golf) Finishes 3rd in Weatherford, Qualifies For Nationals

The T-Birds tied for third place at the Southwest District Championship on Wednesday, April 29. 

Odessa College shot 16-over to win the final tournament prior to nationals. Weatherford College was second at 19-over par. The T-Birds were third at 73-over par with rounds of 311-303-323. Napajira Luesattha of Odessa College won the individual title at 7-under. 

It was an interesting week for the T-Birds on the course. They competed with just four players over the 3-day period. Megan Dawson was sidelined with a sickness and Tova Sandren was out with an injury leaving NMJC with four counting scores available in Weatherford, Texas. 

Freshman Sophie Brothwood led the team of four this week with a T-4 finish. She shot a 2-under 70 in her opening round that included a birdie, an eagle, and just one bogey.

Brothwood was rolling in Round 2 as well with five birdies and an eagle. She was 3-under through 12 holes but a nine on the par-4 13th killed her momentum. She finished Day 2 with a 3-over 75. Brothwood finished her tournament with a 5-over 77 to post 6-over for the week. 

Ella Cornwell opened district play with a 6-over 78 in Round 1. She followed it up with an 8-over 80 in the second round and another 6-over 78 in the final round. Cornwell finished in 16th place at 20-over par. 

Dear Phermthongmak tied for 17th place at 23-over par. Phermthongmak was productive the first two rounds shooting a 4-over 76 and a 1-over 73 through 36 holes. Things unraveled in the final round at Canyon West GC where she shot an 18-over 90 to finish the tourney at 23-over. 

Giuliana Frutos started Day 1 with a 5-over 77 and followed that round up with a 4-over 76 to head into the final round at 9-over. Frutos' final round was a struggle like Phermthongmak. She shot a 15-over 87 to end the tournament in 19th place at 24-over.  

The T-Birds missed out on the two automatic qualifying spots from districts with their third-place finish, but they received an at-large bid to the nationals due to their No. 6 NJCAA ranking. 

The Thunderbirds have made the national championship in all three seasons under head coach Kendalyn Ferguson.

NMJC's final tournament of the season is the NJCAA National Championship in Coal Valley, Ill May 11-14 at Oakwood CC.