MCC golfers win third tournament of the fall; win at NJC
STERLING, Colo. – For the third time in four tournaments this fall, the McCook Community College golf team won the weekly Region IX tournament. On Friday MCC was 10 shots better than the field and won the Northeastern Junior College tournament.
"We capped it off today with another solid score, 288, to win by 23 shots," said MCC Coach Tyler Loop.
After playing the first round Thursday at Sterling's Sky Ranch course, and setting an all-time best team score of 12-under par, the 17th-ranked MCC team came out Friday at Sterling's Riverview Course where they claimed the tournament with a four-over par day. MCC moves into first place in the season long points standings.
"It was warmer day, but very windy and tricky pins made the scoring tougher, plus it was a new course for us," said Loop.
MCC won with a two-day total of 564. Eastern Wyoming second at 587 and NJC third with a score of 599.
MCC also claimed the top three individual scores on the day.
"So it's hard to find any fault with this tournament and I'm very proud of the guys," Loop said.
MCC freshman Cade Cryer (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) was the only golfer in the field Friday to post a score in the 60s'. His five-under par 67 Friday helped him finish in a first-place tie with teammate and fellow countryman Ethan Gough (sophomore Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.) After posting an all-time best, seven-under par round Thursday, Gough shot a 72 Friday and both golfers finished with scores of 137.
Sophomore Cayden Wynne (Lincoln) finished third with rounds of 67 and 73 to finish at 140.
Sophomore Jordan Bingham (West Jordan Utah) finished in 16th place with rounds of 74 and 80. Sophomore Payton Craw (McCook) had a three-shot improvement Friday and moved up in the field to finish in a tie for 17th place. He had rounds of 79 and 76 to finish at 155.
Brayden Dahl (sophomore, Outer West Durban, South Africa) shot rounds of 77 and 79.
Competing as individuals, Hunter Hansen (freshman, McCook) shot a two-day 180. Ashton Koetter (freshman, Seward) finished at 207. After being unable to finish his Thursday round because of an injury, sophomore Spencer Wishon shot an 82 on Friday.
MCC will double-up their tournament time in the next week with back-to-back tournaments Tuesday-Wednesday and Thursday-Friday.
On Tuesday MCC will compete in the two-day National Preview Tournament at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan, site of the 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association golf championships. The field includes many of the top teams from around the country.
On Thursday MCC will jump right back into the Region IX competition and travel to La Junta, Colo. for the two-day Otero Junior College tournament.
MCC leads the Region IX season-long standings race. After picking up 10 points for today's tournament win MCC has earned 37 out of 40 points in the first four tournaments of the year. Eastern Wyoming is second with 34 points.
The fall portion of the Region IX season closes out with the two-day Lamar, Colo., tournament Oct. 6-7.
For all the up-to-date information on MCC golf this season including, schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at mccindians.com
FINAL TEAM SCORES FOR NJC TOURNAMENT
1. McCook CC - 8 276-288 - 564
2. Eastern Wyoming + 15 289-298 - 587
3. Northeastern JC + 27 298-301 - 599
4. Central Wyoming + 36 307-301 - 608
5. Lamar CC + 57 319-310 - 629
6. Otero JC + 67 318-321 - 639
MCC INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T1. Ethan Gough - 6 65 – 72 - 137
T1. Cade Cryer - 6 70 – 67 - 137
3. Cayden Wynne - 3 67 – 73 - 140
16. Jordan Bingham + 11 74 – 80 - 154
T17 Payton Craw + 11 79 – 76 - 155
T.19 Brayden Dahl + 13 77 – 79 - 156
Competing as an individuals
39. Hunter Hansen +37 94 – 86 - 180
42. Ashton Koetter +64 102-105 - 207
WD. Spencer Wishon - WD-82 - WD