GOLF: Castillo leads Chaps to best round at nationals

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

ODESSA, TEXAS - With Adam Coull not feeling his best on Thursday, fellow Midland College sophomore Aston Castillo stepped in and helped the Chaparrals have their best round of the NJCAA National Tournament.

Castillo shot a 5-under 67 and the Chaparrals shot 4-under 284 as a team during third round play on a warm day at Odessa Country Club Links Course.

Unfortunately, the Chaps' 871 total puts them in fifth place heading into the fourth and final round on Friday.

Defending champion Hutchinson Community College continues to have a commanding lead with a 16-under 848. New Mexico Junior College is 15 shots back at 863, Eastern Florida State (868) is third, while host Odessa College moved up to fifth with an 869 after shooting 9-under on Thursday.

It's going to be tough for anybody to overtake Hutchinson with the way it's been playing but Midland College is one of those teams that hopes it can capture one of the top three spots with a good round on Friday.

"We played better today but still didn't putt very well," MC coach Walt Williams said. "We missed a lot of opportunities to make birdies. We had a lot of really good shots, we hit the ball a lot better today by far than we have. If we can hit that well (on Friday) and make a few more putts, we can hopefully climb into second. First will be out of reach. We're within four (of third place), so we've got a chance to get on the medal stand."

Aston Castillo

Castillo, who began the tournament as an alternate, was ready to step in for Coull, who struggled on Wednesday and was not feeling very well, according to Williams. The Wichita State signee responded with six birdies and one bogey.

"I just tried to stay patient today," Castillo said. "My putter was hot and I just tried to give myself opportunities on the greens for birdies.

"I'm feeling good. Hopefully we can crack the top three, 'cause we haven't played that great. We're not out of it. We're just trying to stay focused."

Williams said he was proud of the way Castillo stepped up.

"Aston putted great and he did everything you could ask," he said. "He got in there, took advantage and played great."

Williams added that Bladen Samaniego was feeling a lot better on Thursday after hurting his back early in the third round.

Fellow Chap sophomore and Wichita State signee JT Pittman remains in the hunt in the medalist race as he is tied for fifth and six shots back of leader Ben Partridge, of Hutchinson. Pittman shot even par on Thursday and is 2-under 214 for the tournament.

"I was little cold with the putter, but that's all right," Pittman said. "I came back at the end. I was 2-over with two to play but I went birdie, birdie to finish. It's a good feeling to do that."

JT Pittman

The Chaps will look to finish strong on Friday, as they have a little more confidence after their third round.

"We just need to go out there and do the best we can and as high we can in the race," Pittman said.

Added Castillo: "I think we're all hitting really well. We're just having a tough time on the greens, but we can go off at any time."

Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT 

NJCAA Division I Men's National Golf Championship
At Odessa Country Club Links Course
Par: 72; Yards: 7,260

Wednesday's Third Round Results

Team standings –

. Hutchinson CC 284-282-282--848; 2. New Mexico JC 288-297-278--863; 3. Eastern Florida State 288-297-283--868; 4. Odessa College 287-303-279—869; 5. Midland College 291-297-284—871; 6. Ranger College 298-291-287—876; 7. Western Texas College 303-291-286—880; T-8. Calhoun CC 298-300-289--887; Garden City 298-301-288—887; Indian Hills CC 294-297-296—887; T-11. McLennan CC 295-306-287—888; Dodge City CC 292-299-297—888; 13. Central Alabama CC 292-315-285—892; T-14. Iowa Western CC 298-308-287—893; Pima CC 308-300-285--893; 16. Eastern Wyoming CC 295-303-297--895 ;17. Weatherford College 308-303-292—903; 18. Coastal Alabama CC 308-303-298—909;19. Wallace State CC 302-313-302--917; 20. Jefferson State CC 304-314-306—924; 21. Spartanburg Methodist 319-313-300--932; 22. Northeastern JC 314-314-306--934; 23. McCook CC 322-310-306—938; 24. Estrella Mountain 315-314-313--942 

Medalist standings – – T-1. Ben Partridge, Hutchinson, 68-70-70--208; T-2. Matthis Lefevre, New Mexico JC, 69-73-68—210; Dominic Clemons, Hutchinson, 72-69-69—210; 4. Blake Saffel, Hutchinson, 72-67-72—211; T-5. JT Pittman, Midland College, 68-74-72—214; John Houchin, Eastern Florida State, 73-74-67—214. T-7. Mads Roddick, New Mexico JC, 70-77-68—215; Frank Vucic, Indian Hills, 69-75-71—215; T-9. Timothy Chan, New Mexico JC, 75-71-70—216; Marcelo Garza, Odessa College, 69-76-71—216; Drew Lanier, Eastern Florida State, 73-71-72—216 

Midland College – (291-297-283--871) – JT Pittman 68-74-72--214, Samual McKenzie 74-75-74--223, Angel Guerra 77-72-72—221, Bladen Samaniego 76-76-73--225, Adam Coull 73-81-ns; Aston Castillo ns-ns-67

Odessa College – (287-303-279--869) – Marcelo Garza 69-76-71--216, Laurenz Kubin 71-80-71--222, Sangha Park 73-74-71--218, Max Cooper 74-73-71--217, Cameron Lopez 76-84-ns, Jeff Lebeau ns-ns-67