Jessica Applegarth played lights out to win the individual tournament by 29 strokes. To shoot 76-79 at McCook is unreal and we were all very excited for her.”

Coach Zach Smith

Up Next

Golfers compete at the NJCAA national preview in Kansas from October 24-25.

MCCOOK, NEBRASKA – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lancers and Lady Lancers remained at the top of the leaderboard with strong performances at a golf tournament hosted by McCook Community College from October 10-11.

EWC’s performance throughout the fall season catapulted the Lancer men to the No. 15 spot on the NJCAA Division I national rankings. The Lady Lancers are currently ranked No. 18 for their first season.

The EWC men maintained their fall winning streak, capturing first place with a two-day total of 598 strokes – 22 over par. The Lancers shot 295 strokes in the first round and 303 in the second.

EWC finished 20 strokes ahead of the second-place team, Otero College, at 618. 

Six men advanced to the top 10 on the leaderboard, led by Joshua Chapman in second place with a cumulative score of 147 (three over par). Chapman tallied 70 strokes on Thursday and 77 on Friday.

Taiki Sugawara clinched fourth place, shooting 150 strokes over two days (+6). Opening the tournament with 74 strokes in the first round, Sugawara shot 76 in the second round.

Braylon Bingham came in sixth place posting a two-day tally of 152 strokes (+8). Bingham improved from 77 strokes on Thursday to 75 on Friday.

Mathis Fortin shot 154 over two days to place seventh (+10). Fortin performed consistently with 76 strokes in the first round and 78 in the second.

Jax Oviatt and Tytan Birchall tied for eighth place at 156 strokes (+12). Oviatt shot 77 strokes on Thursday and 79 on Friday. Birchall progressed from 83 in the first round to 73 in the second.

“The guys as a whole played very well again this week,” coach Zach Smith said. “To have six guys in the top 10 was a strong performance. Josh played great on day one to have a share of the lead going into day two but let a couple holes get away from him on the second day to fall to second place. Sophomores Tytan, Taiki, Braylon and Mathis also continue to play well each week.”

The Lady Lancers garnered first place for the fourth time this season, shooting 710 over two days (345-365). EWC beat Northeastern Junior College and North Platte in the women’s division.

Jessica Applegarth set the pace for the Lady Lancers, snagging first place by a 29-stroke margin at 155 (11 over par). Applegarth shot consistently with 76 strokes in the first round and 79 in the second.

Five other EWC women finished in the top 10. Bailey Watson came in second place with a cumulative tally of 184 strokes (+40). Watson shot 85 strokes on Thursday and 99 on Friday.

Georgie Lou Paterakis secured third place, tallying 185 strokes over two days (+41). Paterakis totaled 90 strokes in the first round and 95 in the second.

Shayla Clayton took fourth place with a two-day score of 186 strokes (+42). Shooting 94 strokes on Thursday, Clayton advanced to 92 strokes on Friday.

Halle Allen finished seventh at 198 strokes (+54). Allen improved from 100 strokes in the first round to 98 in the second.

Quinlann Yeager rounded out the women’s leaderboard for EWC with a 10th-place finish at 214 strokes (70). Yeager shot 105 on the first day and 109 on the second.

“It was a smaller field for the women, but once again, they showed up and played very well,” Smith said. “Especially for their first time on the difficult course in McCook. Jessica played lights out to win the individual tournament by 29 strokes. To shoot 76-79 at McCook is unreal and we were all very excited for her.”

Both the men’s and women’s teams competed in pink polo shirts at McCook College to demonstrate their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

“It is a fight that hits close to home with my family and so many others,” coach Smith said. “It’s also a good reminder that we are all fighting one thing or another and it’s good to be there for one another with support and love. I’m proud of our team’s willingness to work hard on the course and that they recognize the need to be just as good off the course in our community.”

Up next, EWC competes at the NJCAA national preview in Newton, Kansas from October 24-25.

Additional menís results

T11 – Josh Lane – 158 (+14, 77-81)

T20 – Freddie Dancox – 165 (+21, 83-82)

T25 – Jordan Hunt – 169 (+25, 80-89)