Spartan Golfers Take First Round Lead at Nationals
The M State Men’s golf team took the first round lead at the NJCAA Division III National Championship at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, New York on Tuesday, firing a score of 301 to take a two stroke lead over defending champions, Georgia Military. Sandhills Community College is three strokes back in third place. In the Spartans nine national tournament trips, the 301 team score is their lowest ever first round score and tied for the third best team score overall. The low round of the day came from Andreas Huber of Sandhills CC who shot a one-under par 71.
“It was a very nice start to the tournament and the guys played well,” commented Spartan Head Coach Jason Retzlaff. “Traditionally we haven’t shot great scores on the first day of Nationals, but the team played with a very solid round today. The key will be to stay patient as there is a long ways to go in a 72-hole championship. Our goal is to put ourselves in position to have a chance going into Friday and we did that today.”
The Spartans were led by Wyatt Blomseth who recorded a 73, tying for the second lowest round of the day. Grant Inniger was fourth with a 74, Carter Justesen tied for fifth with a 75 and Hunter Burnside tied for fifteenth with a 79. John Vall rounded out the team scoring with an 83. Mikey Vall, competing individually, also came in with an 83.
“Wyatt, Grant and Carter played some fantastic golf today,” said Coach Retzlaff. “Wyatt and Grant played very consistently today as they each had 15 holes of par or better. I’m also very proud of Carter as this was only his second round of 18 holes in the last two weeks after having appendix removal surgery. He played with a lot of mental toughness.”
The Spartans will tee off for round two on Wednesday at 9:00am Eastern time.
Grant Inniger with a chip shot on the 4th hole. PHOTO by JEFF HAUKOS
Hunter Burnside chipping on the fifth hole. PHOTO by JEFF HAUKOS
John Vall with an approach shot on the 17th hole. PHOTO by JEFF HAUKOS
