HATZENBUEHLER LEADS DRAGONS TO 4TH-PLACE FINISH AT WACO RIVER

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

WACO, Texas – Freshman Grant Hatzenbuehler earned his first collegiate Top 10 finish and the No. 2-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's golf team earned a fourth-place finish in the fall season opener at the Waco River Classic on Tuesday.

The Blue Dragons got off to a sizzling start in the third round on Tuesday at Bear Ridge Golf Course, playing the first 10 holes in 8-under par. Unable to hold that blistering pace, the Dragons still shot their best team round of the tournament at 291 (+3) and finished with a 54-hole score of 882, 12 shots behind team champion McLennan.

Hatzenbuehler was at 6-under for the final round through 10 holes, but back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12 slowed him down. Hatzenbuehler finished with his first collegiate under-par round of 70 – tallying six birdies and four bogeys – and tied for eighth 1-under 215 for the tournament. He shot rounds of 73 and 72 on Monday.

Freshman Hugo Duquaine just missed the Top 10 with a tie for 11th place. Duquaine carded a 74 and finished at 4-over 220.

Sophomore Jack Northgraves tied for 22nd at 223, tying his tournament low round of 73 on Tuesday.

Freshman Ronnie Gibb had a 74 in the final round and finished at 10-over 226 for a tie for 41st.

Freshman Mark Hewlett had a 77 in the final round and tied for 55th-place at 231.

Both Blue Dragon individuals had strong final rounds on Tuesday.

Freshman Matt Vearncombe jumped 12 places in the standings to tie for 12th at 4-over 220. He shot a 1-under 71 on Tuesday.

Freshman Joe Austin had an eagle on the 515-yard par-5 16th hole to highlight his round of 73. He tied for 34th at 226.

McLennan shot a team 287 to jump two spots into the top spot for the tournament, shooting a 54-hole team round of 870. Midland was second at 872 after a 288 on Tuesday. Day 1 leader Weatherford shot a third-straight 291 and placed third at 73.

McLennan's Abe Bignell shot a tournament low 66 on Tuesday to win individual honors by five strokes with a total of 208.

The Blue Dragons play next Monday and Tuesday in the Bent Tree Classic in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

WACO RIVER CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS
At Bear Ridge GC, Waco, TX – Par 72
1. McLennan 297-286-287—870
2. Midland 293-291-288—872
3. Weatherford 291-291-291—873
4. Hutchinson 297-294-291—882

BLUE DRAGON INDIVIDUALS
T8. Grant Hatzenbuehler 73-72-70—215
T12. Hugo Duquaine 75-71-74—220
T16. Jack Northgraves 73-75-73—221
T34. Ronnie Gibb 76-76-74—226
T54. Mark Hewlett 78-76-77—231
T12. Matt Vearncombe (I) 75-74-71—220
T34. Joe Austin (I) 78-75-73—226