Marion, Illinois---The Men’s Golf Team traveled to Illinois this past weekend and finished 2nd place in a 12 team field (featuring 3 other teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation) only 5 shots off the pace of the host team John A. Logan College and 5 ahead of the next closest team Indian Hills CC. Sundays opening round was met with rain and thunder storms as the team arrived at Kokopelli Golf Club causing a 4 ½ hour delay to the start the day. After a long wait the Cougars showed that they belonged shooting a 306 opening round, just 3 behind JALC who has never lost their invitational at Kokopelli. SMCC was also the only team not to have a player shoot in the 80”s. “I told the team before the round that we need to put ourselves in position to win the tournament, and that is exactly what they did.” said Coach Harrington.
The final round the Cougars were paired once again with JALC (ranked #5 in NJCAA Div II and Indian Hills Community College (Ranked #4 in NJCAA Div I). Battling strong winds with gusts reaching up to 40 mph, the Cougars sought to chase down the title. By the time they reached the back nine they had made up the 3 shot difference on JALC and were in contention down to the wire. However, by the time the day was over JALC once again pulled out to a lead where they finished 5 shots ahead of the Cougars.
After the tournament was over Coach Harrington said “I am extremely happy with the way the team came back and battled the entire tournament…they showed that they can come to a course they have never seen, which was playing close to 7600 yards in the worst of conditions and compete with some of the best schools in the country. I know the guys are disappointed because we were so close, but what we need to take out of this tournament is that we can play with anybody, anywhere, no matter what.”
Leading the way for the Cougars was Freshman Scott Brace with a 5-over 149 finish, leaving him in a tie for 3rd place. Other notable players were Sophomores Keenan Holt and Nic Banfield shooting 9-over and 11-over respectively with both finishing in the top 15. Next up for the Cougars is their final conference tournament of the year April 14-15 at Eastern Arizona.