2022 Region XI Division I Men's Golf Championship Preview

April 22, 2022

2022 Region XI Division I Men's Golf Championships

April 25-26 - Lochland CC - Hastings, Neb.

Lochland Country Club in Hastings, Nebraska will be hosting the 2022 Central District Division I Men's Golf Championships. Teams from both Region XI and Region VI will be competing, with Region XI hosting the event. This tournament is highly anticipated, as there are five teams ranked in the top 15 nationally. Qualifying for nationals will be different than previous years as the top-five placing teams and top-10 finishing individuals will continue on to nationals. Opportunity may remain for any team that doesn't qualify through an at-large bid.

Those teams and individuals who do qualify for nations will move on to compete in the NJCAA National Tournament in Odessa, Texas May 10-13.

Coming into the meet, Hutchison (Kan.) is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation and are the reigning national champions from last season. The team is also reloaded with the No. 3 player and returning individual national champion Ben Partridge. Partridge is currently shooting an adjusted average of 70.67, with teammate and no.4 ranked golfer Harry Crocket averaging an adjusted score of 70.83.

However, it's not just Hutchison's competition to win as Indian Hills comes into the Region XI meet currently ranked No. 7 in the nation as a team. The Warriors have been led this season by Frank Vucic, who has been as high as top-20 in Division I this year.

Vucic has several top three finishes and is shooting an adjusted average of 72.87. Damian Osner will aid Vucic in the meet and lead the team to top finishes. Osner has multiple first-place and top three finishes.

Iowa Western is another team that has been consistent all season and will come into the meet currently ranked at No. 9. Thomas Craig has been the best golfer for the Reivers all season and currently sits within the top-30 in Division I.

He has propelled Iowa Western to a top 4 finish in each tournament this spring. In each of those, he has one first place finish, and three top 8 finishes.

This tournament will be filled with a lot of talented teams and players from other teams as well. Garden City has played good golf all year and is currently ranked No. 12 in Division I as well as Dodge City who is currently right behind them at No. 13.

Each one of these teams has at least one golfer from their squad being ranked in the top 40 individually. Both teams also have top golfers that can sway the outcome for their team. It will come down to the wire to see which team will prevail.

Lochland Country Club Information

Link to Current Team Standings

Link to Current Player Standings

Past Team Champions

2021 – Hutchinson

2020 – COVID-19

2019 – Indian Hills

2018 – Indian Hills

2017 – Indian Hills

2016 – Indian Hills

Past Individual Champions

2021 – Harry Crockett - Hutchinson