Pirates Golf competed in the NJCAA Region XVI, District F Championship on Monday and Tuesday. The event was held at Eagle's Bluff Country Club in Bullard, TX and consisted of a 6-team field. NCMC placed 3rd as a team and qualified on individual golfer, Cody Glenn, for the upcoming National Tournament. Winning the team event was Murray State College, forty seven strokes clear of the Pirates.
Coach Sager had these comments about the event. "We knew that we were going right into the lion's den playing against Murray State College and Tyler Junior College, as well as the other teams in the District. On top of the competition, the golf course was very difficult. One missed swing could easily put two or three extra shots on the card. To have a chance, we had to play our best golf over three rounds and we just didn't do it. That said, the guys competed and finished rounds without their best stuff. Hats off to Murray State and Tyler for advancing as teams; they're very deserving." In the Golf Coaches of America Coaches Poll, Murray State is currently ranked 5th in the nation and Tyler is ranked 6th.
Cody Glenn led the Pirates individually and tied for fourth place overall. That finish was enough to propel him to the National Tournament as an individual. "Cody is playing solid golf right now. He hit a low point at the Crown Clash Spring Invitational and has worked hard ever since to get back into form. It's exciting to see a guy peak at the right time; he played really well at Rend Lake and then backed it up in the District competition. I have no doubt he'll put in the work and have his game at its best for the Championship. He's as talented as anyone in that field; with golf it's all about who can stay hot for four rounds of tournament play," commented Sager.
Pirates competing in event finished as follows in the 28-man field.
T4 Cody Glenn +13
T16 Lathan Croy +26
T16 Pirmin Kamm +26
21 Scott Swayne +34
26 Jasper van der Zon +47
As a team, this event concluded the season for the Pirates. Coach Sager was impressed with the growth of the players individually and as a team. Six of the nine players on the team will be moving on next year. "We've had a lot of positives over the year. These guys have been amazing to work with and there has rarely been a dull moment. I wish I could keep them for two more years, but this is the harsh reality of coaching junior college golf. We get them as kids and for lack of better words, help them grow up on and off the golf course. Now as 20-21 year old's, they are off to continue chasing their dream of playing at the next level. I can only hope that they learned as much over the last year or two as I have being around them. I have no doubt that they'll all do great things in the future and for us it's back to the starting block again. We'll really lean on Pirmin, Van, and Colton to help the new guys acclimate to our system next season," concluded Sager.