T-Birds Win in Kingsland, Svederman Finishes T-2, Robbie Shoots Career-Low 63
The NMJC men's golf team (-22) won the Southwest Championship at the Legends Golf Course by two strokes over Odessa College (-20) on Tuesday, April 16.
The Thunderbirds took home the title after shooting 22-under for the tournament to record a three-round total was 842. NMJC (-7) trailed by one shot to Midland College(-8) and led Odessa College (-6) by one stroke after 36 holes.
The boys came to play on the money day and shot the low round of the tournament, a 15-under 273, to overtake the Chaps and Wranglers on the final day. The Thunderbirds defeated Odessa College (-20) by two shots and Midland College (-19) by three.
NMJC as a team shot 7-under par on the par-5 11th hole during the final round. Kalle Svederman, Andrew Park, and Elias Pettersson recorded eagles. Travis Robbie made birdie and Matt Walters made par.
The Thunderbirds won their fifth tournament of the spring and sixth tournament of the season this week in Kingsland, Texas. The six tournament wins is an NMJC school record for most wins in a single season.
Sophomore Travis Robbie shot a career-low final-round 9-under 63. The Australian began his tournament with a 73-71 to put himself at even par for the tournament after 36 holes.
The Aussie's final round featured nine birdies, nine pars, and was the second-lowest round in NMJC history. The lowest Thunderbird round is 62 (-10) set by Richard James back in 2011-12. Robbie finished the tournament T-4 for the second consecutive week.
Kalle Svederman edged Robbie this week coming runner-up with an 11-under finish. Svederman shot 68-69-68 to record a 54-hole total of 205.
This is the first time in Svederman's career he has strung together three consecutive rounds in the 60s. Midland College's Logan Zurn shot 14-under to win the tournament.
Elias Pettersson's outstanding spring continued with a 5-under par 11th place finish. The Swede shot 68-73-70 to record a 54-hole total of 211. Pettersson made eight birdies in the first round, 16 birdies total, and an eagle in the final round during his tournament.
The format for this week's tournament was 5 count 4 with a sixth member playing as an individual. The Southwest Championship is similar to nationals where you can sub the indy in for one member of the team that is injured or may not be playing to the best of their ability. The substitution must be done before the round begins.
The indy for this week's tournament was Andrew Park. Parky played his first two rounds at 73-73 before being inserted into the lineup on the final day. On Day 2, he shot an even-par 72 to finish at 2-over par for the championship. Park came in a tie for 22nd place with a 54-hole total of 218.
Matt Walters finished T-34 this week with rounds of 75-72-74. The South African was 5-over par and shot a 54-hole total of 221.
Henry Drake was a counting score the first two rounds in Kingsland, Texas. Drake shot 76-77 on Day 1 for a 9-over par 36-hole total. The Englishman regrouped in the final round as an indy and shot a 2-under par 70 to finish with a three round total of 223. Drake ended the tournament at 7-over par and in a tie for 38th place.
NMJC is currently tied with Odessa College at 30-under par after Stage 2 of the WJCAC Championship (Stage 1-WJCAC Qualifier | Stage 2- Southwest Championship). The T-Birds and Wranglers have shot a five-round total of 1402. The Thunderbirds are also four strokes ahead of Midland College. The format for the WJCAC Championship is 6 count 4 over three tournaments.
Travis Robbie is T-2 in the WJCAC Championship standings at 10-under and is two strokes back of Logan Zurn at 12-under. Kalle Svederman is tied for fifth at 8-under.
The cumulative 3-Stage winner will be crowned the WJCAC Player of the Year. Former T-Bird and now University of Arkansas student-athlete Matthis Lefèvre is the reigning 2022 & 2023 WJCAC Player of the Year.
The T-Birds will take a break and make a run at their third tournament win in a row at the NJCAA District 2 Championship April 29-20 in San Angelo, Texas. The 54-hole tournament will be played at Quick Sand Golf Course.
This is the final tournament before the T-Birds compete at the NJCAA DI Men's Golf Championship on their home course Rockwind Community Links here in Hobbs, NM.