Indian Hills back on top as DI men's golf national champs
The Warriors claimed their fifth title since 2011, and first since 2015
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY | ALL-AMERICANS
Lubbock, TX – Top-ranked Indian Hills (IA) pulled away from the field during the third round of the 2018 NJCAA DI Men’s Golf National Championship and held on for its fifth title since 2011. The Warriors shot a 21-under 1,131 to win by nine strokes.
Indian Hills was led by sophomore Ricky Sanders, the 2017 individual national champion who finished his tenure as a Warrior with a tie for second place at 9-under. The field was topped by Iowa Western’s Joel Durnford who fired a 15-under with three sub-70 rounds. Durnford’s 6-under 66 in the final round was tied for the best mark of the tournament along with teammate Tom Westenberger’s 66 on the final day of action.
Along with Sanders, Indian Hills boasted two golfers inside the top 10 as Joe Kim registered a 5-under 283 and Julien Sale’s 4-under 284 was tied for eighth. The Warriors fifth title is the first for the program since 2015.
- With unfavorable weather causing a delay to the conclusion of the second round, Sanders and Kim concluded their round on Friday to help set the Warriors apart.
- The 1,131 72-hole score is the second lowest national tournament score in the history of the Warriors program.
- Sanders’ second-place finish was tied with Midland’s Callum Bruce.
- Indian Hills used 74 birdies and seven eagles to claim the 2018 national title.
- Midland recorded a third-place team finish at 8-under while Odessa and Central Alabama rounded out the top five.
- Odessa’s Brandon Smith carded a 6-under to finish fourth overall.
- The Warriors will look to repeat in 2019 after a history of winning consecutive national titles (2011-12 and 2014-15).
