Warriors are 4th at National Preview

Lubbock, Tex. -- Indian Hills found out something the Warriors probably already knew heading into this week's NJCAA Division I National Championship Preview -- three Texas schools and two from Kansas will provide strong opposition next spring as the Warriors seek to make it three straight national titles.

IHCC and those five other schools finished in the top six spots in the Preview over the same Rawls Course where the national title will be determined next May.

Odessa (TX) CC won the team title by one stroke over McLennan CC, also from Texas, and Odessa's Micah Rodgers was the meet medalist, firing a six-under par 210 over three rounds on the par-72 course.

Indian Hills was fourth, 23 shots behind Odessa.  IHCC had one of the better second rounds with a 293 total but the Warriors were done in by an opening round 298 total and a 302 over the final 18 holes, a total that was 13 strokes behind Odessa.

The Warriors were paced by William White, one of the returners off last year's national title team.  White finished in a tie for 10th place after firing rounds of 73, 71 and 75.  His second-round one-under par 71 was the same as teammate Ben Ludlam and those were the only under-par rounds of the tourney for Indian Hills.

Colin Pearson had a strong tournament for IHCC, finishing with rounds of 73 and 72, good for a tie for 12th place.  Connor Peck had the next-best score, a 223 and a tie for 18th.

In four meets this fall, Indian Hills finished first, second, third and fourth once each.

NJCAA DI National Championship Preview

Team Scores  (top ten)

1. Odessa CC 287-294-289=870; 2. McLennan CC 296-292-283=871; 3. Dodge City CC 300-298-289=887; 4. Indian Hills 298-293-302=893; 5. Western Texas CC 301-292-302=896; 6. Hutchinson CC 302-304-299=905; 7. North Idaho CC 306-292-310=908; 8. Garden City CC 311-307-298=916; 9. Midland CC 308-308-303=916; 10. Clarendon CC 314-312-312=938

Indian Hills Scores

T10. William White 73-71-75=219; T12. Colin Pearson 75-73-72=220; T18. Connor Peck 75-74-74=223; T28. Ben Ludlam 77-71-80=228; T33. Mitch Tucker 77-77-75=229; T39. Kevin Workman 73-79-78=230

Sharpe, Ludlam Lead IHCC to 2nd-Place Finish

Chicago, Ill. -- Freshman Oscar Sharpe was the medalist, one shot ahead of teammate Ben Ludlam, as Indian Hills took second place in the Courgar Classic, hosted by Chicago State.

Sharpe grabbed a one-stroke lead over Ludlam after firing a three-under par 69 in the opening round.  Both IHCC golfers came in at one-over 73 on Tuesday with Sharpe holding off Ludlam for the individual title.

Team champ Wisconsin-Green Bay held a four-stroke advantage over Indian Hills after the first round and maintained that lead on the second day when both schools recorded a 300 score.  Sharpe was playing as an individual so his second-round 73 didn't count toward IHCC's team score.

Warrior sophomores William White and Mitch Tucker tied for 13th place with 150 totals.

Indian Hills edged Valparaiso Gold by one stroke to claim second place.  The Warriors trailed Valpo by eight shots after the first round.

The Warriors go to Lubbock, Texas next week for the NJCAA Division I National Championship Preview.

Cougar Classic

Team Scores

1. Wisconsin-Green Bay 290-300=590; 2. Indian Hills 294-300=594; 3. Valparaiso Gold 286-309=595; 4. Lewis University 297-303=600; 5. St. Xavier 298-313=611; Eastern Illinois 315-300=615; 7. Valparaiso Brown 305-311=616; 8. Parkland 310-311=621; 9. Loyola-Chicago 304-321=625; 10. Purdue-Calumet 325-328=653; 11. Chicago State 371-371=742

Indian Hills Scores

1. Oscar Sharpe 69-73=143; 2. Ben Ludlam 70-73=143; T13. William White 73-77=150; T13. Mitch Tucker 74-76=150; T16. Connor Peck 77-74=151; T30. Kevin Workman 72-83=155; T44. Colin Pearson 77-82=159