Hutchinson CC Sports Information
LUBBOCK, Texas – Sophomore Doug Rios-Ceballos' back-nine surge helped the Hutchinson Community College men's golf team move into the Top 10 of the team standings at the 2018 NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship at The Rawls Course.
Rios-Ceballos had six birdies over his nine holes on Thursday to lead the Blue Dragons to a 294 team score, moving up two spots into 10th place after 54 holes with a team score of 890.
The Blue Dragons are the highest-placing Jayhawk Conference team, leading Dodge City by five strokes. Playing in the same group on Thursday, the Dragons out-shot the Conquistadors 294-305.
CLICK FOR NJCAA DIVISION I MEN'S GOLF RESULTS
The third round was delayed by weather on Thursday and the top three groups still must complete their third round on Friday morning. Matt Percy was the only Dragon golfer on the course at the time of the delay. He finished his round some three hours later.
Rios-Ceballos was 2-over through seven holes on Thursday. He then went on a tear with six birdies over his final 11 holes. Mixing in two bogeys, Rios-Ceballos birdied No. 18 to close his round at 1-under 71. He is now the top Blue Dragon golfer at 2-over 218.
Rios-Ceballos also leads all Jayhawk Conference golfers through 54 holes.
The Blue Dragons also counted freshman Max Smith's 73, sophomore Cole Gritton's 75 and Percy's 75 in the third round.
Percy is currently tied for 24th at 4-over 220. Gritton is tied for 43rd at 8-over 224.
The Blue Dragons counted Smith's score for the first time in the championship as Smith shot a season-best 1-over 73 in Thursday. Smith had a birdie on No. 3 Thursday and followed that with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5. Smith then closed his round with 13 consecutive pars to finish with a 73. Smith is tied for 79th at 233.
Andy Rios-Ceballos shot an 81 on Thursday is tied for 89th at 236.
The Blue Dragons will be paired with Wallace State and John A. Logan College in Friday's final round. Tee times wont' be set until the third round is complete.
Indian Hills leads the team race by four strokes over Iowa Western. The Warriors are at 11-under to the Reivers' 7-under. Midland is the only other team to shoot under park. The Chaps are third at 4-under.
Individual leader Joel Durnford of Iowa Western didn't complete his third round on Thursday, but had an eight-stroke lead after play on Thursday at 14-under. McLennan's Matt Lorentzen is second at 6-under.