Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
HCC GOLFERS CAPTURE DISTRICT III TITLE, WIN THIRD-STRAIGHT REGION VI CROWN
Steve Carpenter
HCC Sports Information
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

GOTHENBURG, Neb. - The Hutchinson Community College men's golf team rallied from six strokes down with five holes to play to win the 2009 NJCAA District III/Region VI championship on Tuesday at Ironhorse Golf Club.

The Blue Dragons won their second District III title in three seasons while winning a third-straight Region VI crown, doing so in dramatic fashion.

Seventh-ranked Hutchinson won the team title with a 54-hole score of 909 after shooting a 296 in Tuesday's final round. Indian Hills finished at 911 after a 297. The Blue Dragons finished 12 strokes ahead of Dodge City, which finished third in District III and as Region VI runner-up.

Things weren't looking good for the Blue Dragons going into the 14th hole on Tuesday. HCC was trailing Indian Hills by six strokes. The four Dragon golfers whose scores counted on Tuesday - Nicky Maddison, Nick Hague, Dale Middleton and Wes Nichols - all had birdies on No. 14. Three of the four birdied No. 15 to forge the Dragons into the lead.
"We played great golf when we needed to," HCC head coach Chris Young.
The district tournament victory was Hutchinson's seventh team tournament title in the 2008-09 season.
Individually, freshman Ben Lohman, who was playing as an individual finished tied for third with Iowa Western's Kevin Strawn at 225, five strokes behind individual champion Steven McGlynn of Indian Hills.
Lowman, who led the tournament after 36 holes, shot an 82 on Tuesday. Lowman also finished as Region VI runner-up to Dodge City's Anders Engel, who finished second overall with a 223.
Maddison finished fifth with a 226 after a final round 74. Hague tied for sixth at 227 after an even-par 72 on Tuesday. Middleton was eight at 229, shooting a76 on Tuesday. Nichols tied for 12th with a 232 after a 74 in the final round.
Tom O'Keefe wound up tied for 19th at 236 after an 81. Drew Chadd, who was playing as an individual, had to withdraw because of illness.

The Blue Dragons will now compete in the NJCAA Division I National Championship in Huntsville, Ala., in mid-May.

DISTRICT III/REGION VI TOURNAMENT
At Ironhorse Golf Club, Gothenburg, Neb.
Team
1. Hutchinson 307-306-296 - 909
2. Indian Hills 303-311-297 - 911
3. Dodge City 320-302-299 - 921

Hutchinson Individuals
T3. Ben Lowman 69-74-82 - 225
5. Nicky Maddison 78-74-74 - 226
T6. Nick Hague 79-76-72 - 227
8. Dale Middleton 76-77-76 - 229
T12. Wes Nichols 77-81-74 - 232
T19. Tom O'Keefe 76-79-81 - 236
Drew Chadd 82-77-WD