Phoenix, AZ – The #1 ranked South Mountain Community College Cougars are on their way to the NJCAA National Championship in Scottsboro, Alabama after a dominating performance at the NJCAA Region I Championship this week. With a 72-hole total of 1141 (289-284-286-282), the Men’s Golf Team ran away with a 32-shot victory over Chandler-Gilbert Community College to claim their 7th ACCAC Region Title in the last 9 years. Sophomore Scott Brace earned individual medalist honors for the Cougars with a final round 67 to beat out teammates Trent Ka’ahanui and Adam Winwood who finished in second and third place respectively.
“This week was a very good week for South Mountain golf,” said Head Coach Jake Harrington, “I am very proud of the way the guys played this week. They have worked so hard all year to accomplish this goal and they all stepped up and proved that they wanted it more then anybody else.”
After Thursday the Cougars found themselves trailing by 4-shots to Chandler-Gilbert Community College and 16-shots ahead of Mesa Community College. However, the rest of the week would go a lot different, starting Friday for the Cougars as they erased the 4-shot deficit and jumped out to a 6-shot lead on CGCC with an even par round of 284 and would never look back. Saturday proved to be tough weather conditions with wind gusts of up to 20 mph, however, it was moving day for the Cougars as they shot a team total of 286, which was the best team total of the day by 12-shots over the rest of the field and they lengthened their lead to 18-shots over CGCC and 26 over MCC with the top 2 teams advancing to the National Championship. Sunday the Cougars left their mark as they shot a tournament best 282 and pulled away to a 32-shot victory over CGCC and a 35-shot victory over conference runner-up MCC.
South Mountain Community College claimed the top 3 individual spots as Sophomore Scott Brace finished as the only individual under par with rounds of 71-69-72-67 for a total of 5-under 279, Freshman Trent Ka’ahanui finished in 2nd place with rounds of 70-72-69-73 for an even par total of 284, and Sophomore Adam Winwood finished in 3rd place with rounds of 74-71-71-71 for a 3-over total of 287. Sophomore Chace Nathe also claimed All-Region honors in 10th place with rounds of 74-73-74-74 for a total of 295 and Sophomore Rob Murray finished in 15th place with rounds of 77-72-79-71 for a total of 299.
The Cougars will take their momentum and then nations #1 ranking to Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro, Alabama for the National Championship to be played May 19- May 22, 2009 where they look to accomplish their final goal of the season, a national championship.