By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Donaldson, IN---Blaze Hogan (Big Rapids/Big Rapids, MI) led the No. 1 Express men's golf team to a first place finish at the eight-team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) D-II National Tournament Preview Tournament this weekend.
The event was held at Swan Creek Golf Resort in Donaldson, IN, which will be the home of this spring's national tournament. The event featured a practice round on Thursday, 36 holes on Friday and 18 holes today.
Hogan had three-round totals of 72-74-70 for a 216 total, while Harrison Long (Wilnecote/Tamworth, UK) shot a 71-72-74 for a 217. Brandon Hoelzer (Fremont Ross/Fremont, OH) shot 78-73-71 for a 222, Philippe Weppernig (Lucerne, Switzerland) shot a 74-77-78 for a 229, Kirby Manown (Belle Vernon/Belle Vernon, PA) shot a 75-81-78 for a 234 and Dru Hein (Jasper/Jasper, IN) shot a 78-79-76 for a 235.
The Express led after each round of the event as they shot a 292 the first 18, a 296 the second 18 and a 293 today. They finished with a team score of 881 for all 54 holes, while No. 5 Grand Rapids Community College's 892 was good for second place.
Notes
Today's championship is the fourth first place finish of the fall for the Express, who will play in the Lourdes University Fall Finale tomorrow at Barrington Golf Club in Aurora, OH. Following that, their final event will be the Cincinnati State Fall Invitational at Browns Run in Middletown, OH on Oct. 19.