GOLF: MC’s Pittman wins national title

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

ODESSA, TEXAS - JT Pittman capped off his Midland College career in style on Friday.

The sophomore from Monahans won a two-hole playoff against Hutchinson Community College's Dominic Clemons to win the individual NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship title and he helped Midland College finish in third place at Odessa Country Club Links Course.

Pittman joins David Thomas (2008), Tommy Sikes (2009) and Callum Bruce (2019) as Midland College players to win the individual national championship.

Pittman and Clemons finished with 281 totals as the Chap golfer and Wichita State signee shot a 5-under 67 to get into a playoff.

JT Pittman

"It's a dream. It's crazy, it's about all I can say about that. It's a dream that came true," Pittman said. "It's what I work for every day when I hit range balls, putt, chip, everything.

"The round was good. I had a little hiccup on hole eight and made a double bogey and hit it in the water. I shot 31 on the back to shoot 67 and I put it behind me quick, I had to."

Both players birdied the first playoff hole, but then in the second hole, Clemons had to hit his way out of a bunker to even have a chance. Clemons did get out it with a great shot, but eventually missed a short putt for birdie to give Pittman the victory.

"You never think they're going to miss that short putt. Just got lucky, I guess," Pittman said.

MC coach Walt Williams was thrilled for Pittman.

"I couldn't be more happy and proud of him," Williams said. "He's worked really hard. He's a great kid, great young man, great family, good local West Texas boy. JT is every bit deserving of it. It's his fourth career win, so it's a pretty good win."

Team-wise, Hutchinson secured its second straight national title by 20 strokes with a 6-under par 1,130. Odessa College was second with an 1,150 and the Chaparrals edged out New Mexico Junior College by one stroke to get on the medal stand in third with an 1,151.

Williams said he was proud of his team for fighting back after starting the day in fifth.

"It's a great group of guys," Williams said. "All six of them are sophomores, all six of them graduate, all six of them are signed with Division I schools. We won nine tournaments and won conference and regionals, I couldn't be more proud of these guys.

"To be without (the injured) Gregor Graham, the No. 2 player in the country, and to still get on the medal stand in third place, it was a fantastic finish."

Added Pittman: "As a team, we played very well today. It's not what we wanted, but not everything is perfect in this world. We fought hard and I'm glad to be calling myself a Chaparral."

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

Friday;s Round Results

Team standings – 1. Hutchinson CC 284-282-282-282—1,130; 2. Odessa College 287-303-279-281—1,150;  3. Midland College 291-297-284-279—1,151; 4. New Mexico JC 288-297-278-289—1,152; 5. Eastern Florida State 288-297-283-289—1,157; 6. Western Texas College 303-291-286-286—1,166;  7. Ranger College 298-291-287-295—1,171; T-8. Calhoun CC 298-300-289-286—1,173; McLennan CC 295-306-287-285—1,173; 10. Dodge City CC 292-299-297-287—1,175; 11. Central Alabama CC 292-315-285-285—1,177; 12. Indian Hills CC 294-297-296-291—1,178; 13. Iowa Western CC 298-308-287-286—1,179; 14. Garden City 298-301-288-296—1,183; 15. Pima CC 308-300-285-294—1,187; 16. Eastern Wyoming CC 295-303-297-294—1,189; 17. Weatherford College 308-303-292-294—1,197; 18. Coastal Alabama CC 308-303-298-298—1,207;19. Wallace State CC 302-313-302-295—1,212; 20. Jefferson State CC 304-314-306-291—1,215; 21. Spartanburg Methodist 319-313-300-294—1,226; 22. Northeastern JC 314-314-306-304—1,238; 23. Estrella Mountain 315-314-313-297—1,239; 24. McCook CC 322-310-306-308—1,246

Medalist standings – T-1. * JT Pittman, Midland College, 68-74-72-67—281; Dominic Clemons, Hutchinson, 72-69-69-71—281; 3. Ben Partridge, Hutchinson, 68-70-70-74—282; T-4. Frank Vucic, Indian Hills, 69-75-71-69—284; John Houchin, Eastern Florida State, 73-74-67-70—284; Blake Saffel, Hutchinson, 72-67-72-73—284; Matthis Lefevre, New Mexico JC, 69-73-68-74—284; 8. Mads Roddick, New Mexico JC, 70-77-68-70—285; 9. Drew Green, Spartanburg Methodist, 81-67-69-69—286; T-10. Drew Lanier, Eastern Florida State, 73-71-72-71—287; Brendan Thomas, Eastern Wyoming, 73-72-72-70--287

     * won two-hole playoff

Midland College (291-297-284-279—1,151) – JT Pittman 68-74-72-67--281, Samual McKenzie 74-75-74-67--290, Angel Guerra 77-72-72-75—296, Bladen Samaniego 76-76-73-70--295, Adam Coull 73-81-ns-ns; Aston Castillo ns-ns-67-75

Odessa College (287-303-279-281—1,150) – Marcelo Garza 69-76-71-73--289, Laurenz Kubin 71-80-71-67--289, Sangha Park 73-74-71-70--288, Max Cooper 74-73-71--217, Cameron Lopez 76-84-ns-ns, Jeff Lebeau ns-ns-67-72