Joel Durnford Win National Championship, Team finishes Runner-Up

May 18th, 2018

Lubbock, TX

The men's golf team put a finish to their stellar season with a Runner-Up finish at the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf National Championship in Lubbock, Texas. After 4 rounds the team shot a score of 1140 to secure the 2^nd place finish. The Reivers led after round one and a score of 11-under par 277. Joel Durnford and Tom Westenberger each fired rounds of 66 and Albert Nilsson carded a 68. After round 2 the team found themselves tied at 12-under with Indian Hills Community College. Joel again led the Reivers with a round of 67 and Albert again fired an under par round of 71.

Round 3 brought the heaviest wind of the tournament and the scores showed it. The Reivers fired a 5-over par 293, the 3^rd lowest round of the day but lost 9 shots to the eventual Champions, Indian Hills. Joel carded his 3^rd round in the 60's with a 69 and stretched his lead to 9 shots.

A thunderstorm almost stopped the final round before it got started. The players were allowed to resume play at 3:30pm, giving them very little time to finish their round before darkness. The team played very well early, cutting the lead to 4 shots after 6 holes. But Indian Hills played the par 5's exceptionally well throughout the round and the tournament and the guys were unable to catch them. The team shot a final round 283, 5-under par to earn their 2^nd place finish.

Joel finished out the Championship with his 4^th straight under par round of 71 and a 6 shot victory for Iowa Western's 1^st Men's Individual Champion.

The runner-up finish was also the Reivers highest finish in program history.

Albert Nilsson (10th) and Tom Westenberger (13th) also earned NJCAA All-American honors.