DRAGON GOLFERS OPEN AT NO. 2 IN GOLFWEEK NJCAA PRESEASON POLL

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Already possessing two national championship trophies earned in the last five seasons, the Hutchinson Community College men's golf team is predicted to be in the hunt for another title this season.

The Blue Dragon open the 2025-26 season ranked No. 2 in the Bushnell/Golfweek NJCAA Division I Coaches Preseason poll, released on Friday.

Starting his 26th season as the Blue Dragon head coach, Chris Young returns three players from last season's Jayhawk Conference and Region 6 champions that finished fourth in the 2024 NJCAA Division I Championship at Sand Creek Station in Newton.

Two of the three returnees competed in the 2024 national championships for Hutchinson. Sophomore Corey Scullion played 43rd with a 72-hole total of 302. Jack Northgraves tied for 56th at 310. Cal Schultz is the other returning player.

This is the seventh-straight season the Blue Dragons start a season ranked in the Top 3 of the Bushnell/GolfWeek preseason rankings.

Defending national champion Midland College received all 10 first-place votes and opens the season ranked No. 1. Indian Hills is No. 3, Odessa is No. 4 and New Mexico Junior College is No. 5.

No other Jayhawk Conference team is ranked in the preseason Top 10, but Garden City and Dodge City are the first two teams in the Receiving Votes list.

The Blue Dragons will play in five fall tournaments, beginning at the Waco River Classic from September 14-16 at Bear Ridge Golf Course in Waco, Texas. The Dragons will also play twice in the fall season at Sand Creek Station – October 5-7 in the Shocker Classic and October 30-31 in the NJCAA Division I National Preview.

2025-26 Bushnell/Golfweek NJCAA DI Coaches Poll – Preseason
                                      Points
1. Midland (10)                  90
2. Hutchinson                  69
3. Indian Hills                    68
4. Odessa                          67
5. New Mexico JC               58
6. McLennan                      40
7. Central Alabama             26
8. Western Texas                24
9. Tyler                              22
10. Eastern Florida State      9
   Others Receiving Votes: Garden City (8), Dodge City (7), Blinn (4), Weatherford (3).