The Blinn College men’s and women’s golf teams hosted the Blinn Spring Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at the Brenham Country Club in Brenham, Texas.
The Buccaneer men’s Blue squad earned a second-place finish, while Blinn sophomore Emily Madeley shined for the women’s team with a second-place individual showing.
The seven schools competing in the annual tournament did so under harsh weather conditions that included bouts of rain and lightning.
“Golf is a deal where everybody is playing in the same conditions, and adapting to all of the elements around you is a part of the sport,” Blinn head coach David Johnson said. “That’s what makes it fun.”
Despite the adversity, Blinn’s Blue team of sophomores Austin Hassell, Cason Holzshu, and Jacob Holloway, along with freshmen Ben Jones and Preston DeSerrano, finished just 7-over par in the three-round competition and placed behind McLennan Community College (even).
Hassell carded a 1-under par four fourth place individually, just two strokes behind co-tournament champions Blake Turner (Jacksonville College) and Johan Bredenkamp (Tyler Junior College). Hassell shot par in the first and third rounds while shooting 1-under in the middle 18.
Jones also had a strong showing at 1-over for ninth place.
Freshman Volker Henkel, who competed for the Blinn White team and had Blinn’s best round of the tournament at 2-under, placed 11th in the 40-man field at 4-over. Holzshu was 14th at 6-over, Holloway and freshman Landon Johnson (White team) tied for 15th at 8-over, and sophomore Herman Holst carded a 9-over for the White squad to tie for 18th.
“It was good to see us play so well at home, with all 15 of our guys doing some great things on the course,” Johnson said. “Hassell and Jones continued playing well for us, while Volker had his best tournament as a Buccaneer. I’m really proud of everybody.”
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Emily Madeley watches her putt during the Blinn Spring Invitational on April 8)
While the Blinn women’s club did not field a complete team this week, the Bucs still made some individual noise on the links.
Madeley finished 8-over and just one stroke behind tournament champion Margret Nyamukondiva (Western Texas College). Sophomores Natalie Peebles and Kimberly Tiefenbach tied for 13th at 23-over.
A total of 38 golfers participated in the women’s tournament.
“Emily continued her great play with a third consecutive runner-up finish,” Johnson said. “As a golfer, you strive for consistency, and she has definitely accomplished that. I’m very proud of Kimberly and Natalie for their play as well. It was great to see the girls overcome the disappointment of not getting to play as a team and play well anyway.”
Next up for Blinn men’s golf is the Southwest Championship, which begins Monday, April 15, at Legends Golf Course and Villas in Kingsland, Texas. The women will return to the course for the NJCAA District 4 Championship on Saturday, April 20, at the Brenham Country Club.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
