Highlanders punch ticket to 16th consecutive national tournament

The McLennan Highlanders qualified for the program's 16th consecutive NJCAA National Tournament with a second-place finish at the NJCAA Southwest Championship at the par-72, 6,914-yard Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro, Texas. The Highlanders shot  290-295-288 – 873 to finish one stroke behind Midland in first with 299-282-891 – 872.

Alex Isakson shot 74-73-68 – 215 to finish in third place, individually, and lead the Highlanders. Michael Salazar of Midland claimed the individual title with 70-67-73 – 210.

Other McLennan scores: Judd Tilson, tied for seventh, 74-75-71 – 220; Matt Lorentzen, 10th, 71-74-77 – 222; medalist Brayden Marnell, tied for 11th, 74-73-76 – 223; Micah Goulas, tied for 16th, 71-79-75 – 225; Parker Scaling, tied for 16th, 78-73-74 – 225; and medalist Trent Leffingwell, tied for 35th, 84-73-75 – 232.

Other team scores: Tyler, third, 302-297-286 – 885; Odessa, fourth, 295-302-297 – 894; Western Texas, fifth, 304-289-302 – 895; Jacksonville, sixth, 307-300-302 – 909; New Mexico, seventh, 300-308-306 – 914; Ranger, eighth, 323-309-297 – 929; and New Mexico Military, ninth, 325-317-322 – 964.

Scores from this tournament were combined with scores from last week's NJCAA District II Championship to determine the qualifiers for the national tournament. Midland (876-872 – 1,748), Odessa (870-894 – 1,764), McLennan (898-873 – 1,771) and Western Texas (886-895 – 1,781) will compete in the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship May 15-18 at The Rawls Course in Lubbock.