BLUE DRAGONS RANKED NO. 1 IN THREE MAJOR POLLS AHEAD OF NATIONALS

Blake Saffell and the Blue Dragon men's golf team are ranked No. 1 in three different national polls entering the NJCAA National Tournament later this month. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

May 5, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Jayhawk Conference champion Hutchinson Community College men's golf team enter the 2023 NJCAA Division I Championships ranked No. 1 in junior college golf's three major national polls.

The two-time defending NJCAA national champion Blue Dragons picked up their third No. 1 ranking in the final Bushnell/Golfweek NJCAA rankings that were released on Friday.

Hutchinson was already ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA Coaches Poll and the GolfStat Team Rankings.

The Blue Dragons tied New Mexico Junior College for the second most team championships in the NJCAA the season with five. Only Midland College won more tournaments with six team titles.

The Blue Dragons tied for the team title in one and won the other two Jayhawk Conference tournaments outright to capture a fourth-straight league crown this season. The Dragons then finished third in the Central District Tournament to qualify for a 22nd-straight NJCAA Tournament.

The Top 5 in each of the national polls are:

Bushnell/Golfweek Poll: 1. Hutchinson; 2. New Mexico JC; 3, Midland; 4. Dodge City; 5. Odessa.

NJCAA Coaches Poll: 1. Hutchinson; 2. New Mexico JC; 3, Midland; 4. Dodge City; 5. Odessa.

GolfStat Team Rankings: 1. Hutchinson; 2. New Mexico JC; 3, Midland; 4. Dodge City; 5. Odessa.

The Blue Dragons have three players ranked in the Golf Stat Individual rankings. All-American Dominic Clemons is ranked No. 2, KJCCC Individual Champion Alex Lindstrom is ranked No. 7 and 2022 All-American Blake Saffell is ranked No. 13.

The Blue Dragons begin play in the 72-hole NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship on May 15 at Sand Creek Station in Newton.