NMJC Golf Wins National Preview in Kansas

The New Mexico Junior College golf team won the NJCAA DI National Preview at Sand Creek Station after firing a 6-under par three-round total of 858 (288-282-288). The T-Birds narrowly defeated the two-time defending national champion Hutchinson Blue Dragons by three shots.

The Thunderbirds overcame a 3-shot deficit to the Blue Dragons in the final round to win the 54-hole event in Newton, Kan.

The T-Birds shot an even-par 288 in round one led by sophomores Mads Røddik and Tim Chan, who each shot a 1-under 71. 

NMJC sophomore Matthis Lefèvre stepped up in round two with a 4-under 68. Chan followed up his solid round one performance with a 3-under 69. 

Freshmen Jono Boediman and Will Green had a big day for NMJC in round two. Boediman battled back from a nasty quadruple bogey on the par-3 seventh, making birdies on 14, 15, and 16 to shoot a 1-over 73. Will Green closed in phenomenal fashion as well. The Portsmouth, England native was four over with four holes to play, but finished birdie, eagle, par, birdie to shoot an even-par 72. 

The Thunderbirds shot a 6-under 282 in round two, cutting the six-shot lead in half to three headed into the final day.  

The winds were howling on the final day of the tournament blowing a steady 25-30 mph. The T-Birds would need something special to come out victorious.

Røddik, coming off a disappointing 76 in round two, fired off a 4-under 68 for the low round of the day. Røddik knocked in a 40-foot birdie putt on 18 to help seal the three-shot victory.

Lefèvre navigated the brutal wind on his way to a 2-under 70. The Thunderbird sophomores were the only two players in the tournament under par in the final round.

Boediman and Green each shot a 3-over par 75 on the final day to round out the scoring for the team. The Thunderbirds finished the final round shooting an even-par 288, enough to claim their first tournament victory since the Wolfpack Invitational in fall of 2019.

The win will likely push the No. 2 Thunderbirds to No. 1 overall nationally for the first time in over a decade.

Lefèvre (-4) individually finished in solo second for the tournament, four shots behind Blue Dragon medalist Dominic Clemons (-8). Røddik finished in fifth place shooting 1-under par for the tournament.  

Head coach Jay Rees was understandably emotional talking about the win, which he acknowledged was "biggest win in NMJC golf history."

"I just think about the previous coaches that sacrificed so much when they were here," Rees said. "I feel a sense of pride delivering a win of this magnitude to our school and town because this is what I set out here to do in January when I was hired."

Rees said that a pep talk prior to the final day was what triggered the historic performance. 

"I told them I believe that you're the best team here," Rees said. "If you want them to respect you then you have to go out there and earn it by beating them. I told the guys you need to come and win this for each other, and they went out and won it."

In golf, every shot counts the same whether it comes in round two or on the final day. Tournaments come down to a handful of strokes that decide who wins and who goes home empty.

"I'll tell you who I am really proud of is our freshmen Will Green and Jono Boediman," Rees said. "They were struggling in round two and easily could've packed it in and shot 80, but they went on to grind out a competitive score that ultimately helped us win."

"We won because the team finished like a champion," Rees said. "I could see the relief off of Mads and Matthis' faces when the scores came in, we had finally done it."

Sophomore co-captain Mads Røddik was bursting with excitement recounting the win.

"The feeling of winning the preview was special," Røddik said. "We have been so close to winning so many times and to finally win is the best feeling. I'm very proud of the way we battled, the wind was blowing very hard, so we had to stay focused. We knew that Hutchinson had a strong team, so getting the win over the two-time defending national champions was extra special."

Røddik was proud of his performance in the final round after struggling in round two. The Danish native said he knows the importance of winning the NJCAA DI National Preview at Sand Creek Station. The course will also host the NJCAA DI Men's Golf Championship in May of 2023.

"Personally, I am very happy to help the team win with the low individual round on the final day," Røddik said. "This win shows us that we can be the best team in the nation. We now believe we have what it takes to win the national championship next semester."

NMJC will play next in the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate at New Mexico State Oct. 18-19.