NIC GOLF: McNelly still in title fight after third round for Cardinal men

• MEN

NEWTON, Kan. — North Idaho College freshman Eli McNelly is fourth after three rounds at the NJCAA Championships after shooting an even-par 72 on Thursday at Sand Creek Station Golf Course. 

McNelly, who led with a 66 after the first day, is at 212, two shots behind co-leaders Adam Bresnu of Odessa (Texas) and Charlie Box of Hutchinson (Kan.), who are at 210.

Midland (Texas) leads the tournament by nine shots with a 858. NIC is currently 10th, 31 shots off the lead. 

The tournament concludes today. 

NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS 

At Sand Creek Station Golf Course 

Newton, Kan. 

Par 72 

7,113 yards 

TOP INDIVIDUALS — 1 (tie), Adam Bresnu, Odessa (Texas), 69-67-74—210; Charlie Box, Hutchinson (Kan.), 70-69-71—210. 3, Hugo Koch, Tyler, 75-70-66—211. 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Midland (Texas), 284-286-288—858. 2, Odessa (Texas), 288-283-296—867. 3 (tie), Hutchinson (Kan.), 285-295-293—873; Indian Hills (Iowa), 287-294-292—873. 5, New Mexico, 289-293-296—878. 6, Tyler (Texas), 298-296-288—882. 7, Central Alabama, 304-289-292—885. 8, Dodge City (Kan.), 294-292-300—886. 9, McLennan (Texas), 285-298-304—887. 10, North Idaho, 292-298-299—889. 11 (tie), Western Texas, 293-292-313—898; Weatherford (Texas), 300-304-294—898. 13, Jefferson State (Ala.), 303-98-298—899. 14 (tie), New Mexico Military, 296-309-295—900; Iowa Western, 300-299-301—900. 16, Garden City (Kan.), 301-303-299—903. 17, Blinn (Texas), 300-305-301—906. 18, Ranger (Texas), 307-308-300—915. 19 (tie), Wallace State (Ala.), 318-297-301—916; Eastern Wyoming, 309-308-299—916. 21, Eastern Florida State, 311-302-304—917. 22, South Union State (Ala.), 318-296-307—921. 23, Otero (Colo.), 316-322-315—953. 24, Central Wyoming, 323-319-316—958. 

NORTH IDAHO — 4, Eli McNelly, 66-74-72—212; t39, Harrison Hashimoto, 75-73-76—224; t-60, Noah Moody, 79-75-74—228; t65, Mason Barmingham, 75-77-77—229; t65, Dyson Lish, 76-76-77—229.  

• WOMEN

Solodan finishes strong

for Cardinal women 

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Sophomore Rien Solodan shot a 6-over-par 78 to finish 65th for the Cardinals in the NJCAA Tournament, which concluded at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course.

Odessa’s Napajira Nami Luesattha won the NJCAA title with a 8-under 279. Odessa also won the women’s title with a 1,182. 

Cardinal sophomore Megan Quinton shot her best round of the season, an 82.

NIC, which opted to cut its men's and women's golf programs following the school year, finished 16th, shooting its best round of the tournament and ending up five shots back of Garden City (Kan.), which was 15th.

"We went out the final day with one goal in mind and that was to beat Garden City," NIC coach Brittany Pounds said. "We came up just short but the girls left it all on the line. I feel like things finally started to click for the girls on the final day and we were finally able to minimize our errors. It’s sad knowing that this was the final round for not only the season but also for school history. I am beyond proud of the girls and their efforts this season. Couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls."

NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS 

At Buffalo Dunes Golf Course 

Garden City, Kan.  

Par 72 

6,053 yards 

TOP INDIVIDUALS — 1, Napajira Nami Luesattha, Odessa (Texas), 74-68-69-68—279. 2 (tie), Chloe De Verner, Odessa (Texas), 75-71-74-76—296; Asitha Ashok, Seminole State (Fla.), 75-72-74-75—296. 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Odessa (Texas), 300-290-293-299—1,182. 2, Seminole State (Fla.), 298-290-302-310—1,200. 3, Daytona State, 312-296-299-302—1,209. 4, New Mexico, 314-302-308-312—1,236. 5, Blinn (Texas), 329-297-309-312—1,247. 6, Palm Beach State, 326-304-309-309—1,248. 7, Dodge City (Kan.), 315-310-302-325—1,252. 8, Eastern Florida State, 316-299-313-327—1,255. 9, Tyler (Texas), 321-315-312-311—1,259. 10, McLennan (Texas), 325-306-310-320—1,261. 11, Redlands (Okla.), 322-314-317-311—1,264. 12, Iowa Western, 322-311-322-317—1,272. 13, Weatherford (Texas), 329-315-324-326—1,294. 14, Indian Hills (Iowa), 329-315-323-333—1,300. 15, Garden City (Kan.), 346-328-336-340—1,350. 16, North Idaho, 347-340-337-331—1,355. 

NORTH IDAHO — 65, Rien Solodan, 85-86-87-78—336; 67, Katherine Woodhouse, 87-82-84-84—337; 72, Ava Young, 89-85-83-87—344; 73, Megan Quinton, 87-87-89-82—345; 74, Ryann Walker, 88-87-83-92—350.