The Buccaneers finished 2-over par in the 11-team tournament which began Monday and was played across two rounds. Eleventh-ranked Odessa College won the tournament team title at 5-under. No. 2 New Mexico Junior College placed second at 4-under, and No. 7 Midland College was third after shooting even.
The Bucs placed ahead of three of the NJCAA’s ranked programs: No. 3 Western Texas College, No. 6 Ranger College, and No. 18 Tyler Junior College.
“It was a very good tournament for us this week,” Blinn head coach David Johnson said. “We needed a good showing to better our chances of getting to the national tournament. We faced a great field in this tournament, and we beat some of them, which should help us move up a little in the next poll.”
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Carson Wray, left, and Cameron Hubbard)
The Buccaneers have yet to crack the NJCAA DI Men’s Golf top 20 but are ranked 18th nationally by respected golf media outlet Golfstat.
Blinn sophomore Carson Wray paced Blinn at 3-under par and finished in a five-way tie for fourth. Sophomore Cameron Hubbard cracked the top 20 with a three-way tie for 19th place. He shot 1-over. A total of 62 golfers competed in the tournament.
Sophomores Van Miller (four-way tie for 23rd) and Tyler Thomson and Sam Sewell (both part of a nine-way tie for 27th) broke the top 30, shooting 2-over and 3-over, respectively.
“We had a great team performance in both rounds, and everyone pitched in,” added Johnson. “That’s what we have to have from here on out: All five guys with their oars in the water paddling.”
The Buccaneers will compete in the two-day Centenary Spring Invite on Monday and Tuesday, March 20-21, at Stonebridge Golf Club in Bossier City, La.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
