SMCC Men's Golf, Adam Croix Win Estrella Mountain Spring Tournament

PHOENIX ---

Freshman Adam Croix finished at +2 (146) to win individual medalist honors, and the SMCC men's team claimed the team title at +23 (599) at the Estrella Mountain Spring Tournament at Sundance Golf Course in Buckeye, Ariz., on Feb. 24-25. Croix carded identical rounds of one-over 73 to edge teammate Jorge Parada and Chandler-Gilbert CC's Chris Xiao by two strokes for the tournament title. As a team, the Cougars led by nine after one round and held off a second-round charge by CGCC to win the event by four strokes. 

SMCC opened with a seven-over 295 to lead by nine strokes over Mesa CC, 11 over Eastern Arizona, and 13 over CGCC. The second round proved tougher for the Cougars, who finished at 16-over 304 to edge CGCC, who finished at seven-over 295, by three strokes on the final leaderboard. 

"We need to be mentally tougher and withstand adversity a bit better to put ourselves in a position to have a stronger finish in the future," said SMCC men's golf head coach Marcus Smith. 

Croix excelled on the back nine over both days to win individual medalist honors for the first time in his intercollegiate career. He birdied the par-four No. 17 and the par-five No. 18 in his first round and then finished under par on the par-four No. 15 and again at No. 18. 

Parada finished on his heels in a tie for second at +4 (148) with the Coyotes' Xiao. He had three birdies and an eagle on the par-five No. 9 in his first round to finish at even-par 72. He had two birdies in his second round to post a four-over 76. 

Freshman Jack Taylor and freshman Luke Padilla, playing individually, tied for ninth at +7 (151). Taylor posted three birdies in his first round to finish at one-over 73 and had one birdie in his second round to finish at seven-over 79. Padilla had three birdies in his first round en route to a two-over 74 and added three more in his second round to finish at six-over 78. 

Freshman PJ Segerstrom was 14th at +12 (156) with rounds of five-over 77 and seven-over 79. Freshman Kenny Taylor tied for 19th at +16 (160) with rounds of 12-over 84 and four-over 76. He had three birdies over the front nine in his second round and moved up six spots on the final leaderboard.