by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Focus now shifts to a return to the NJCAA Division II national tournament for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s golf team after a fourth place finish in the Jayhawk Conference championship at Sand Creek Station in Newton Monday and Tuesday.
Fifth in last year’s NJCAA national tournament, the Blue Devils will compete in regional qualifying at Sycamore Ridge in Spring Hill May 4-5 for a spot in this year’s national to be played in Swan Lake, Ind., May 23-28.
KCKCC’s fourth place came in the closest finish in conference history between three NJCAA Division I powers loaded with international players. Dodge City’s 12 over par 876 won it by two shots over Hutchinson and three over Garden City. KCKCC nipped Barton 918-919 for fourth followed by Coffeyville (947) and Allen County (968).
“We shot 291 in the second round which was pretty good for us and we were still only fourth behind Dodge (284), Hutch (290) and Garden City (290),” said KCKCC coach Gary Shrader. Freshman Jeremy Dunham had a 4-under par 68 the second round while Colton Allen and Dalton Ayres added 74’s and Zach Spencer 75
A sophomore from Shawnee Mission Northwest, Colton Allen earned honorable mention on the All-Jayhawk Conference team based on points accumulated during the season.
All four Blue Devils finished in the top 30 in the championship tourney. Dunham tied for eighth (80-68-79-227); Ayres shared 15th place (77-74-76-227); Spencer was 21st (72-75-83-230); and Allen tied for 30th (83-74-80-237). KCKCC’s fifth player, Matt Thayne, was 41st (80-81-92).
The final 36 holes were played in an all-day rain.
“Walking those muddy fairways took a big toll the last 18 holes,” Shrader said. “The kids said their legs were hurting so bad on the way home. But we did well against the other Division II teams and are looking forward to the regional.”