BOX CAPTURES NJCAA NATIONAL GOLF TITLE
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
NEWTON – When Hutchinson Community College Charlie Box sank his final putt on Friday at the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships at Sand Creek Station, he knew he was the clubhouse leader with a one-stroke lead in the individual standings.
The next 90 minutes must have seemed like 90 years for the Blue Dragon sophomore.
With six groups, including Odessa's Adam Bresnu – the No. 1-ranked player in the NJCAA – still on the course just one stroke behind with five holes to play, No. 2-ranked Box had no control over how things would eventually play out.
Box's roller-coaster ride finally came to an end as Bresnu missed a putt on No. 18 and Box claimed Blue Dragon men's golf's second all-time national individual championship.
Box shot a 1-over-par 73 on Friday in the fourth and final round and finished with a 5-under 283 for his fourth tournament win of the season and fifth of his Blue Dragon career. He topped Bresnu by one stroke. Bresnu had a 2-over 74 on Friday. Both Box and Bresnu entered the final round tied for the individual lead at 6-under par.
Box had just one birdie in the final round, which came on No. 11. The Blue Dragon sophomore had a rough start with back-to-back bogeys to start the round, but kept plodding along with 15 pars and the birdie on 11 to close out the round.
Bresnu was primed for a comeback victory when he chipped in for birdie on No. 17 to tie Box at 5-under. On 18, Bresnu missed a birdie putt attempt to win, then missed his par putt, which would have forced a playoff with Box. He three-putted for a bogey, which made Box the national champion.
Box joins Ben Partridge as the only Blue Dragon golfers to win the NJCAA Individual national championship in program history. Partridge won a four-hole playoff with teammate Harry Crockett in 2021 in Lubbock, Texas.
Box also joins Partridge in an exclusive club as the only back-to-back NJCAA first-team All-Americans in back-to-back seasons. Box is also the eighth Blue Dragon to earn both NJCAA and PING All-America honors in the same season.
The Blue Dragons shot a final-round 306 in windy scoring conditions on Friday to places fourth overall with a 72-hole team total of 1,179.
Hutchinson extended its current program-record streak of Top 10 national finishes to five-straight seasons. The Blue Dragons won the national championship in 2021 and 2022, finished fifth in 2023 and ninth last season.
Midland won the 2025 team title with a team total of 1,158. Odessa was second at 1,165 and Indian Hills was third at 1,173. Dodge City finished seventh at 1,192 and Garden City was 16th at 1,211.
Blue Dragon freshman Tyler Walker finished tied for 20th on Friday with a four-round score of 294. After three-straight rounds of par or lower, Walker closed the championship with a 79 on Friday.
Freshman Corey Scullion placed in a tie for 43rd place at 302. Scullion had a final-round 79 on Friday.
Freshman Jack Northgraves had a 75 in the final round to finish at 310 which tied for 56th.
Sophomore Louis Ross tied for 80th at 310 after an 83 on Friday.