Ruidoso, NM - The South Mountain Community College Men’s Golf Team started off their 2008-2009 Season with steady play in the High Country Shootout, which was held at the Links at Sierra Blanca. After the first round of play on Sunday, SMCC found themselves in 1st place with a team score of 12-under 276 closely followed by Western Texas College, Odessa, and defending National Champions Midland College. Sophomores Scott Brace and Adam Winwood led the way for the Cougars with scores of 65 and 69 respectively. Freshmen Trent Ka’ahanui shot 2-under 70 and Anthony Depalma played steady at 72.
The second round Sunday had a little different feel for the Cougars posting a 1-under total 287, leaving them at 13-under for the day, however, trailing Midland, Odessa, and Western Texas College. Brace and Winwood continued their solid play shooting 2-under 70 leaving them at 9-under and 5-under respectively. Depalma continued to play well with a round of 72 leaving him at even par at the end of the day with Travis Graves posting 3-over 75 and Ka’ahanui 76.
The Final 18 holes on Monday started with the Cougars bunched up at the top only 5-shots back of the lead but in 4th place. The morning started off cold and with the team struggling to get the ball in the hole making the turn at 2-over par on the day. However, the team would battle back on the backside lead by Brace and Ka’ahanui. Ka’ahanui was dialed in with great iron play making the turn at 1-under and picking up 2 more at #13 and #16 leaving him at the end of the day with a round of 69. Brace kept firing away on the field turning the front nine at 3-under and then picked up birdies at #13 and #15 coming in, to put him at 5-under 67 on the day. Winwood finished at 3-over 75, and Graves 4-over 76.
The Cougars finished the High Country Shootout in 4th Place behind Western Texas, Midland, and Odessa College. Brace finished the tournament in T2nd Place at 14-under 202, followed by Winwood (T16) at 2-under 214, Ka’ahanui (T19) at 1-under 215, Depalma (T43)10-over 226, and Graves (T50)14-over 230. Representing South Mountain Community College and playing individually in the tournament was Robert Murray, a red-shirt from the 2007-08 season, played his first college tournament shooting 75-75-76 leaving him (T43) at 10-over 226.