Chiefs place 20th at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa
Waubonsee Community College’s men’s golf team recently competed at the 2017 NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament. The Chiefs placed 20th in the nation at the Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona. Guided by head coach Dave Heiss and assistant coach Rodney Davis, the Chiefs qualified for nationals after finishing second at the Region IV Tournament back in November. Earlier in the fall Waubonsee captured the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) title for the second straight year.
Being the only region in the NJCAA that competes in the fall seemed to hamper the Chiefs in Mesa. Waubonsee looked rusty on day one of the four-round event carding a team total of 339, well off their pace from the regular season. The Chiefs posted a 318 on day two and followed that up with a 323 and a 335 on the final day. Golfers from 41 Division II junior colleges from across the country competed under the Arizona sun.
Individually Waubonsee was led by Marmion Academy graduate Jackson Clark who tied for 62nd overall. An All-ISCC and All-Region performer, the sophomore was consistent over the four days of the event posting scores of 79, 78, 77 and 77 for a 311 total, 27 strokes over par. ISCC Medalist Ben Melms finished tied for 89th place with a four day total of 321. The DeKalb High School product carded rounds of 82, 80, 75 and 84. Ramir Rogue, who finished second in both the ISCC and at the Region IV Tournament, struggled on day one and could never quite recover. The freshman from Bukidnon in the Phillipines, tallied a season-high 95 in his opening round before bouncing back to fire a 76 on day two. Rogue finished with rounds of 83 and 85 to end up in 126th place. Jesse Denton, another of the Chiefs’ All-Region performers, also struggled. The Kaneland High School graduate placed 127th overall, five stroke behind Rogue. Jacob Cook, the Chiefs’ fourth All-ISCC performer, posted a first round 107 before having to withdraw due to injury.
