DRAGONS BUILD 3-STROKE AFTER ROUND 1 AT NJCAA

Freshman Dominic Clemons finished with two birdies over the final five holes to finish at 72 and help the Blue Dragons build a three-stroke lead after one round of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament on Tuesday in Odessa, Texas. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Freshman Dominic Clemons finished with two birdies over the final five holes to finish at 72 and help the Blue Dragons build a three-stroke lead after one round of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament on Tuesday in Odessa, Texas. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

BLUE DRAGON MEN'S GOLF

NJCAA Tournament – Round 2

When: Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Where: Odessa Country Club, Odessa, Texas
Par/Yardage: 72/7,260
Round 2 Tee Times: 1:24 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Teams Paired With: Midland, Central Alabama
Live Results: GolfStat.com

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

ODESSA, Texas – Sophomore Ben Partridge's opening-round 68 helped the No. 3-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's golf team to a three-stroke lead after the opening round of the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships at Odessa Country Club.

The defending national champion Blue Dragons posted a team score of 4-under 284 after 18 holes on Tuesday. Hutchinson leads second-place Odessa by three strokes. Eastern Florida State and New Mexico Junior College are tied for third at even-par 288.

The Blue Dragons counted Partridge's 68 and even-par 72s from sophomore Harry Crockett and freshmen Blake Saffell and Dominic Clemons.

Partridge's 68 is tied with Midland's JT Pittman for the individual player lead. There are 20 players, three of them are Blue Dragons, within four strokes of the individual lead.

Partridge opened strong playing the six holes in 4-under par with birdies on Nos. 2 and 5 and an eagle-2 on the 440-yard par-4 fifth hole. Partridge bogeyed Nos. 9 and 14 to fall to 2-under before back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16. Partridge finished the round with pars on Nos. 17 and 18.

Crockett got as low as 2-under after scoring an eagle on the 415-yard par-4 sixth hole. Crockett suffered bogeys on Nos. 14 and 16 to close at 72.

Saffell posted three birdies and three bogeys, playing the back nine in 1-under to finish at even-par 72.

Clemons came up big for the Blue Dragons and finished the back nine stroke to keep the Blue Dragons in first place. Clemons was 2-over after 11 holes, but finished with birdies on Nos. 13 and 16 to close at even-par 72.

Crockett, Saffell and Clemons are in a nine-way tie for 12th place at 72.

Sophomore Addison Alonzo posted a 2-over 74 in the opening round. Alonzo had two birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey in his round. He is tied for 34th at 2-over par.

The Blue Dragons will once again be paired with No. 1-ranked Midland and No. 2-ranked Central Alabama for Wednesday's second round. The Blue Dragons will see off beginning at 1:24 p.m.