GOLF: Pittman fires a 68 to lead Chaps after first round
It wasn’t the ideal start for the No. 1-ranked Midland College golf team on Tuesday, but JT Pittman made sure the Chaparrals were still within striking distance after the opening round of the NJCAA National Tournament.
By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram
ODESSA, TEXAS - It wasn't the ideal start for the No. 1-ranked Midland College golf team on Tuesday, but JT Pittman made sure the Chaparrals were still within striking distance after the opening round of the NJCAA National Tournament.
Pittman had a great round by shooting 4-under 68 at Odessa Country Club Links Course on Tuesday to place him in a tie for first place with Hutchinson Community College's Ben Partridge.
As a team, the Chaparrals shot a 3-over par 291 in the first round to put them in fifth place with three rounds left. Defending national champion Hutchinson leads with a 4-under 284, while host Odessa College is second with a 287. New Mexico Junior College and Eastern Florida State are tied for third with an even 288.
"I'm especially proud of JT for shooting 4-under today, that's a phenomenal score in this wind, and in a big moment," MC coach Walt Williams said. "Hopefully the rest will pick it up a little in the next few days."
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Pittman, who is from Monahans and has signed to play at Wichita State University next year, said hitting a lot of fairways was a key to his success. He finished with six birdies and two bogeys.
"It is a little windy but the course is in great shape. The greens are so good, it's unreal," Pittman said.
Outside of Pittman, the rest of the Chaps were over par with fellow sophomore Adam Coull leading the other MC golfers with a 1-over 73.
"It's due to a lot of things," said MC coach Walt Williams of why his team got off to a slow start. "It's a little breezy out and they wanted to do so well and they're ranked No. 1 in the country, so that puts a little pressure on you. It makes you hold on and want to be special. Sometimes it makes you a little tight and you don't have your best start."
Pittman said if you don't feel some sort of pressure, then you might be in the wrong place. He added that the Chaps know there's plenty of golf left for his team.
"We just need to put this day behind us and try to go at it again tomorrow and shoot as low as possible," he said.
Williams said Tuesday's play was the not unusual for the Chaps, who tend to start tournaments slow but improve as play goes along. All they have to do is refer back the NJCAA Region V/District 2 Championship a couple of weeks ago in Brownwood when they shot 25-under in the final round to come back from a four-shot deficit and win the tournament by 10 strokes.
"We've come back from eight back with one round to go before," Williams said. "I think (Wednesday) we'll play a little better. I think we'll be fine and we'll see how it plays out. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon of four days with 18 holes (each day). Three-over is not the worst score we've ever shot."
Added Pittman: "As long as we're in it, there's always a chance on that last day."
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NJCAA Division I Men's National Golf Championship
At Odessa Country Club Links Course
Par: 72; Yards: 7,260
Team standings – 1. Hutchinson CC 284; 2. Odessa College 287; T-3. Eastern Florida State 288; New Mexico JC 288; 5. Midland College 291; T-6. Dodge City CC 292; Central Alabama CC 292; 8. Indian Hills CC 294; T-9. Eastern Wyoming CC 295; McLennan CC 295; T-11. Garden City 298; Ranger College 298; Calhoun CC 298; Iowa Western CC 298; 15. Wallace State CC 302; 16. Western Texas College 303; 17. Jefferson State CC 304; T-18. Coastal Alabama CC 308; Weatherford College 308; Pima CC 308; 21. Northeastern JC 314; 22. Estrella Mountain 315; 23. Spartanburg Methodist 319; 24. McCook CC 322
Medalist standings – T-1. Ben Partridge, Hutchinson, 68; JT Pittman, Midland College, 68; T-3. Frank Vucic, Indian Hills, 69; Matthis Lefevre, New Mexico JC, 69; Marcelo Garza, Odessa College, 69; 6. Mads Roddick, New Mexico JC, 70, T-7. Matt Gauntlett, Eastern Florida State, 71; Luke Stock, Ranger College, 71; Peter Clark, McLennan CC, 71; Laurenz Kubin, Odessa College, 71; Brandon Boncore, Eastern Florida State, 71
Odessa College (287) – Marcelo Garza 69, Laurenz Kubin 71, Sangha Park 73, Max Cooper 74, Cameron Lopez 76
Midland College (291) – JT Pittman 68, Adam Coull 73, Samual McKenzie 74, Bladen Samaniego 76, Angel Guerra 77