Highlanders punch ticket to 19th consecutive NJCAA National Tournament

The McLennan Highlander golf squad is headed to the NJCAA Division I National Championship for the 19th-consecutive year after shooting 281-283 – 568 at the District 2 Championship in Brownwood.

Midland, New Mexico, and Odessa have all punched their ticket to join McLennan at the national tournament to be held May 10-13 at the Odessa Country Club. Weatherford and Western Texas are in a playoff for the final qualifying spot.

Midland finished atop the leaderboard in Brownwood with 285-263 – 548, followed by Odessa in second with 281-277 – 558 and New Mexico in third with 284-278 – 562. Weatherford finished tied for fourth with McLennan at 286-278 – 564.

James Perry and Shoichiro Kato shot 72-69 – 141 and 70-71 – 141, respectively, to lead the Highlanders and finish tied for 12th place.

Other McLennan scores: Kevin Yang, tied for 16th, 69-74 – 143; Peter Clark, tied for 21st, 71-73 – 144; Liam Gobin, tie for 29th, 71-71 – 145; and Donovan Dastmalchian, tied for 32nd, 76-70 – 146.

Other team scores: Ranger, sixth, 286-279 – 565; Western Texas, seventh, 285-281 – 566; Blinn, eighth, 293-289 – 582; and Jacksonville, 335-312 – 647.

Scores from this tournament were combined with those from the Southwest Championship to determine the qualifiers.