STEVE CARPENTER
Hutchinson Community College Sports Information
NEWTON – Jack Northgraves’ final round of the NJCAA Division I National Preview started out on Friday with a bogey on the first hole at Sand Creek Station.The remaining 17 holes were special for the Hutchinson Community College sophomore golfer.Northgraves shot a career-low 7-under 65, narrowly missing his second career individual title and led the No. 5 Blue Dragons to a second-place finish against most of the teams Hutchinson will see at the NJCAA Division I Championships in May at Sand Creek Station.
The Blue Dragons shot a 3-under 285 on Friday to finish tied for second at 571. McLennan won the tournament by six strokes with a two-round total of 565. The Highlanders shot 284 on Friday. The Blue Dragons tied with Weatherford for second. Weatherford shot 286 on Friday.
After a 72 in the first round of the National Preview on Thursday, Northgraves opened Friday’s round with a bogey. From that point, the Blue Dragon sophomore took off. Northgraves had eight birdies and nine pars in his final 17 holes. He made the turn at 3-under and scorched the back nine with five more birdies to finish with a 65.
Northgraves opened the day tied for 16th. His career-best round helped Northgraves jump 15 places to second place, just one stroke behind individual champion Abe Bignall of McLennan, who posted a 69 on Friday to finish at 136.
Sophomore Corey Scullion was the second Blue Dragon to finish in the Top 5. Scullion shot a 1-under 71 to close at 4-under 140.Freshman Joe Austin had a 75 on Friday and finished at 148 to tie for 24th. Freshman Hugo Duquaine carded a 74 on Friday and tied for 28th with a 36-hole total of 149. F
reshman Grant Hatzenbuehler shot a 78 on Friday and tied for 31st at 150.
The Blue Dragon “B” Team struggled in the second round, posting a 311 in the second round and placed ninth at 605.
Freshman Ronnie Gibb had a 68 in the first round and closed the tournament with a 75 to tie for 11th at 143. Freshman Mark Hewlett finished at 161, which tied for 35th after closing with a 77. Freshman Matt Vearncombe had a 77 in the second round and tied for 48th at 154. Freshman Hudson Sauder tied for 59th after a final-round 82 to finish at 158. Sophomore Cal Schultz had an 84 on Friday and tied for 65th at 160.
Hutchinson’s lone individual, Lincoln Barnes, tied for 42nd after posting a final round 152 on Friday.
The Blue Dragons close out the fall portion of the schedule and will open the spring season in late March. The complete Spring schedule will be posted in the near future.