DeSchutter takes fifth; Broncbusters grab top-15 finish at NJCAA Championships
Newton, KS-Anthony DeSchutter made history on Friday.
The sophomore capped off a sensational week with a 1-over, 73, tying for fifth place at 5-under par and earning NJCAA first-team All-America honors at the 2023 Men's National Championships at Sand Creek Station. It was the highest individual finish in school history.
"For Anthony, what a way to finish his Garden City golf career," Head Coach, Phil Terpstra said. "Fifth place and first-team All-American, what more can you ask for?"
The Broncbusters finished 15th as a team while Indian Hills claimed the overall national championship.
"The guys were definitely disappointed with our team scores in the first three rounds, but I was really proud of how they battled today in horrible weather conditions," Terpstra explained.
DeSchutter was in prime position to compete for the individual crown after shooting a combined 9-under par on Wednesday and Thursday. But those rounds were basked in sunshine. Friday on the other hand was a rain-soaked mess, with weary conditions exacerbated by bone-chilling winds that turned a late-spring golf tournament into a winter precession.
"The conditions were what they were, I was just excited to have a chance," DeSchutter said. "I tried to do something special."
DeSchutter may not have won it all, but he certainly etched his name in Garden City lore. After a shaky 3-over, 75 during Tuesday's opening round, the sophomore, who experienced plenty of ups and downs during last year's National Championships in Odessa, TX, played some of the best golf of his career. He carded a tournament-low 67 in round two; then followed that up with a 4-under 68 on Thursday to push him within four shots of Midland's Chris Wardrup for the lead. And even though he never reached the top, DeSchutter proved on Friday that no matter the elements, he was game.
He played smart golf in round four, not tempting fate when mother nature was unleashing the worst conditions of the week. He saved par on eight of the first nine holes; then played mistake free until he one-putted No. 15. He birdied 16 before tapping in for par on 17 and 18, capping off a brilliant three-day run that turned an opening-round 75 into an historic climb, one that saw him jump over 50 spots to finish in the top five.
"I had a lot of fun," DeSchutter added.
Joshua Balson-Scales tied for 62nd after carding his second straight 77. But his back nine on Friday may have been his best stretch of the tournament. After a disastrous 5-over on the front, the sophomore saved face with three birdies over the final nine holes to finish 12-over for the week.
Meantime Tiaan Diedericks tallied his second straight 78 to finish 18-over for the tournament. He finished 82nd, Akarachai Sakunlee was 85th after tying his low score for the week with a 76, and Jackson Koksal finished 102nd.
"Jackson played his best tournament of the year, and his first three rounds really helped the team," Terpsta said.
Indian Hills' Jose Ramirez outlasted Odessa's Laurenz Kubin for the individual national championship.