SMCC Men's Golf Places Third at NJCAA Division II National Championships
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The South Mountain Community College men's golf team finished at +38 (1,190) to place third at the NJCAA Division II National Championships, which ran from May 20-23 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind. The Cougars rebounded from some tough results in rounds two and three to card a team score of +3 (291) in the fourth and final round of the event to edge Kirkwood CC (IA) by one stroke for third place. Individually, Jorge Parada tied for sixth at +8 (296) and Jaxson Wright tied for 11th at +10 (298) to lead the Cougars.
Parada, who won the 2025 NJCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine earlier in the week, closed strong and moved up nine spots on the final leaderboard after posting a one-under 71 in his final round. He had three birdies and eagled the par-five No. 18 to conclude his time at the event. Parada posted a +2 (74) with two birdies in his third round and added three birdies to finish at +4 (76) in the second round. He opened with a +3 (75) that featured three more birdies.
In addition to the Phil Mickelson Award, Parada earned 2025 First Team NJCAA Division II Ping All-America and All-South Region honors for his play during the 2025 season. He won the Region I Championships and was the only competitor to finish under par for the event, carding a -5 (279). Additionally, Parada received 2025 ACCAC Player of the Year honors for his work on the links.
Wright also closed the tournament on a high note, moving up four spots on the leaderboard with a +1 (73) in a final round featuring two birdies. He also opened with a +1 (73) with five birdies, posted two birdies in round two to finish at +3 (75), and carded two more birdies in his third round to finish at +5 (77). He earned 2025 NJCAA Division II Ping All-South Region honors for his play in 2025.
Wrigth and Parada earned NJCAA All-America honors for their top-15 finishes. 
Adam Croix moved up eight spots on the final leaderboard after finishing at even-par (72) in his final round, recording three birdies over the last 18 holes to tie for 21st at +13 (301). He opened with a +1 (73) with one birdie, recorded one birdie in a second-round 77 (+5), and had three more birdies in his third round to post a +7 (79). Croix received 2025 Second Team NJCAA Division II Ping All-America and All-South Region honors for his play this season.
PJ Segerstrom tied for 26th at +15 (303). He opened with a +2 (74) that featured two birdies and matched that score in his third round with two more birdies. He carded a +6 (78) in his second round, recording an eagle-three on the par-five No. 5 and two more birdies. Segerstrom's final round featured one birdie as he posted a +5 (77).
Jack Taylor tied for 29th at +17 (305). He moved up four spots on the final leaderboard after scoring a +3 (75) in a final round with four birdies. He started the tournament quickly, scoring a -1 (71) in the first round with four birdies. He carded a +10 (82) with one birdie in his second round and a +5 (77) with two birdies in the third round.
All the strong finishes helped push the Cougars into third and past the Kirkwood Eagles for third overall by one stroke. Mississippi Gulf Coast won the National Championship at +26 (1,178), edging Illinois Central by one stroke for the team title. Stanley Campbell of MGC won individual medalist honors at -5 (283).
SMCC second-year head coach Marcus Smith received 2025 ACCAC Coach of the Year honors for leading the Cougars to the Regional Title. He was also named a finalist for the 2025 Dave Williams NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year award.
Smith led the Cougars to eight victories in the 2025 campaign, including six of their last seven tournaments. He also helped guide SMCC to two other top-three finishes.
