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

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

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.