HOBBS, New Mexico -- Indian Hills' and Iowa Western's Men's Golf teams participated in the NJCAA Division I National Championships last week where the defending champion Warriors finished in eighth, while Iowa Western finished in 18th as a team.
Indian Hills started Day 1 with Jose Carletta sitting atop the leaderboard after his opening round 67 (-4). Carletta then faded in rounds two and three shooting a combined 5-over-par betweens the rounds falling to 15th place. Carletta didn't give up though, on the last day he shot an outstanding 66 (-5) to get him back inside the top-10 and gave him Second Team All-American status.
Carlettta was joined by Gaspar Glaudas who also earned Second Team All-American honors after also shooting 66 (-5) in the final 18-holes. Glaudas didn't have the best first round, but he was able to fight back in the later rounds. An opening round of 78 (+7) didn't put him down, he posted three-straight rounds in the 60's to will his way back into the Top-10. Glaudas was T-93 after round one but later moved up 85 spots in the next rounds to finish tied for eighth with Carletta.
Matias Koropeski finished T-49 for Indian Hills and finished 10-over par. Emillio Arellano placed T-55 after the 72 holes played and stood at 12-over-par after the four rounds.
For Iowa Western, the Reivers' got out to a slow start as a team after round one they sat in 19th place as a team, out of 24 participating. In the second round the Reivers fought back from an opening round 304 to post 293 on Day 2.
Iowa Western had their best round of the tournament on Day 3. They closed out round three with a team score of 291.
"I was proud of the way Nick balanced the good and the bad out there. He battled back from a rough first round and has put himself in contention to receive All American Honors", Reiver coach Ryan Norman said. (via goreivers.com)
Leading the way for the tournament for Iowa Western was Nick Slobbe. He shot an impressive 68 (-3) on Day 2 and followed that up with a 70 (-1) on Day 3. Slobbe struggled on the final round shooting 78 (+7) on the final day to finish T-51 at 11-over-par. Calen Bishop was the next best finisher for the Reivers last week, finishing T-80 in the four rounds played shooting 19-over-par.
Ethan Smith finished tied for 83rd after shooting 20-over-par following the 72 holes played. Ryan Lingelbach finished tied for 94th shooting a 24-over-par and rounding out the Iowa Western lineup.
New Mexico Junior College won the team title after finishing -13 as a team.
Thanaphon Suwannapratheep of Dodge City (Kan.) won the individual crown after finishing 9-under par.
Second Team All American
8. Gaspar Glaudas (Indian Hills, IA)
9. Jose Carletta (Indian Hills, IA)