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By Bret Mitchell
HCC Sports Information
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Hutchinson Community
College men’s golf team has to navigate 18 more holes with a 20-stroke
cushion on Sunday to capture a second Jayhawk Conference championship in
three seasons.
The Blue Dragons blistered
Cottonwood Hills to the tune of a 5-over-par 293 in the second round of the
sixth and final Jayhawk Conference tournament of the season on Saturday to
build a 20-stroke lead over Dodge City and 25-stroke lead over Johnson
County.
The final 18 holes will be
Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. at Cottonwood Hills. HCC golfers tee off in the
final five groups to go off of the first tee. The first Blue Dragon tee time
is at 9:40 a.m. and runs through 10:20 a.m.
Entering the final
tournament, HCC had 46 team points, and led Johnson County by one point and
Dodge City by two points.
The Blue Dragons, who last
won a league championship in 2006, and Dodge City were tied at 301 after the
first round and led Johnson County by nine strokes. HCC took charge in the
final round with a blistering 293, led by sophomore Nick Hague’s 1-under 71.
This is only the second
time that HCC has played Cottonwood Hills, but it’s the second tournament in
a week’s time on Hutchinson’s newest golf course that was designed by Nick
Faldo.
“We’ve only been playing
this course since Monday,” sophomore Alex Wasinger said. “But that other
tournament did help.”
Other scores that counted
in the second round for HCC were 74s by Wasinger and sophomore Branson Real
and a 76 by freshman Wes Nichols.
After a 301 to start, Dodge
City fell to 313 in the afternoon round for a 36-hole total of 619. Johnson
County shot 310 and 309 for a 619.
“Winning this tournament
has been one of our goals since the first practice,” Wasinger said.
Wasinger himself had a very
strong day, and is in second place after 36 holes one stroke behind Dodge
City’s Henrik Holm. Wasinger shot a 1-under 71 in the morning round and
2-over 74 for a 36-hole total of 145.
Hauge is right behind in
third at 146 (75-71), while Real is sixth with a 150 (76-74). Nichols is
also in the top 10, in a four-way tie for ninth with a 155 (79-76).
Freshman Tom O’ Keefe
struggled in his opening round, but improved 16 strokes in the afternoon to
finish at 168 (92-76).
Entering the final
tournament, Nichols was third in the league individual race, Real was fourth
and Wasinger five. With his impressive second round, Hauge could make it
four Blue Dragons in the Top 10 of the final individual standings. Hauge was
12th enter the final tournament.
<HCC/LEAGUE TOURNAMENT PHOTO GALLERY>
OTHER QUOTES
Head Coach Chris Young
On the play in the afternoon ...
“We played pretty well this
morning, and got things rolling in the afternoon. It seems like we always
play better in the afternoon.
On his coaching strategy ...
“I’m not going to put much
pressure on the players.”
Sophomore Alex Wasinger
On his overall play ...
“I hit the ball really well
today, only had one bad hole. Outside of that, everything was good.”
On his irons ...
“My irons were really good
today, I hit a lot of shots close.”
JAYHAWK CONFERENCE NO. 6
Saturday, April 19, 2008 – Cottonwood Hills, Hutchinson, Kan.
Team
scores
1. Hutchinson
301-293–594
2. Dodge
City 301-313–614
3.
Johnson County 310-309–619
4.
Kansas City 319-308–627
5.
Coffeyville 321-312–633
6.
Pratt 324-326–650
7. Allen
County 337-319–656
8.
Barton County 346-332–678
9.
Colby 376-354–730
Top
10
1.
Henrik Holm, Dodge City
71-73–144
2. Alex Wasinger, Hutchinson
71-74–145
3. Nick Hague, Hutchinson
75-71–146
4.
Jordan Wilson, Kansas City
73-75–148
5.
Brandon Keen, Coffeyville
76-73–149
6. Branson Real, Hutchinson
76-74–150
7.
Andrew Hoover, Pratt
75-76–151
8. Mike
Elafros, Johnson County
77-76–153
9T. Nate
Sargent Johnson County
79-76–155
9T.
Keith Erickson, Johnson County
76-79–155
9T. Wes Nichols, Hutchinson
79-76–155
9T. Zach
Henderson, Dodge City
75-80–155 |
