NEWTON, Kan. – The Eastern Wyoming College Lancer golf team of Oscar Behle, Hjarup, Sweden; George Cordall, Nottinghamshire, England; Ryker Dunkley, American Fork, Utah; Berlin, Leander Suttka, Berlin, Germany; and Noah Taylor, Spanish Fork, Utah finished their season with a top 10 team finish at the NJCAA Men’s National Championship held in Newton, Kansas May 16-19.
“I’m so proud of the way the team played all week,” EWC coach Zach Smith said of the Lancers’ highest National Championship finish ever. “Everyone played an important role in getting to this point, and I couldn’t be happier for the guys.”
The Lancers finished in a tie for 10th place with Dodge City (Kansas) Community College with a score of 30-over-par. Indian Hills Community College won the tournament with 25-under par. Region IX foe McCook Community College finished 16th with a 40-over-par.
“We played well enough the first three days to put us in a decent spot heading into the fourth and final day,” Smith said. “It was windy and rainy on the final day, which was nothing new to our typical conditions in Region IX, so we were able to jump five spots due to some very steady play from the guys.”
On the individual side, Cordall finished in a tie for 21st 1-over-par, and Taylor finished in a tie for 43rd 7-over-par. Suttka finished the tournament 13-over-par, while Behle finished 19-over par. Dunkley ended the season 22-over par.
“I’m going to miss the guys that are done at EWC and wish them nothing but the best. I know they’ll do some great things,” Smith said. “I want to say a big thanks to Harry Walch, a former Lancer golfer, who has helped at the national championship the last three years. Without his help this week, we wouldn’t have had the best finish at the national championship in Lancer golf history.
Behle graduated this spring. Suttka, Taylor and Dunkley will return next fall.
“I’m excited for next season,” Smith said.
