HATZENBUEHLER’S 69 HELPS DRAGONS JUMP BACK INTO NJCAA TOP 5
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
NEWTON – During a third-straight day of rugged scoring conditions because of high winds, freshman Grant Hatzenbuehler powered through those conditions to score under par for a second-straight round and help the Hutchinson Community College men's golf team return to the Top 5 after three rounds of the 2026 NJCAA Division I Championship at Sand Creek Station.
Hatzenbuehler carded a 3-under-par round of 69 on Thursday as the Blue Dragons posted a 298 team score. Hutchinson is tied for fourth with Odessa with a 54-hole team score of 894.
The final round of the 2026 Championship begins at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. The Blue Dragons will tee off with Central Alabama and Odessa from 11:40 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. off Hole No. 1 at Sand Creek Station.
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S GOLF
NJCAA Division I Men's National Tournament
When: Friday, May 15, 2026
Where: Sand Creek Station, Newton, KS
Round: 4 of 4
Tee Times: 11:40 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. (Hole 1)
Live Scoring: Clippd
The Blue Dragons were at 14-over par through 12 holes in Thursday's third round, but again Hutchinson's back-nine success at Sand Creek Station emerged once again.
Over the final seven holes, the Blue Dragons made their move with seven birdies – five consecutive birdies from Hatzenbuehler – and finished the round at 5-under par to close at 10-over 298. The Dragons counted scores from Hatzenbuehler, Corey Scullion (73), Hugo Duquaine (76) and Jack Northgraves (80).
Hutchinson has posted team rounds of 301, 295 and 298 in the first three rounds. The Blue Dragons are bidding for their sixth-straight National Tournament Top 10 finish and still have an opportunity at a third team national championship.
The Blue Dragons trail team leader Indian Hills by 12 strokes entering Friday's final round. Indian Hills shot a team 298 score and leads McLennan by four strokes at 892. McLennan had a 299 on Thursday. Weatherford is third at 893 after a 298 in the third round. Odessa shot a 302 in the third round.
Hatzenbuehler had a roller-coaster third round.
He had front-nine birdies on holes 1, 2 and 4 to shoot 33 on the front. Starting the back nine, the freshman from Andover posted a quadruple-bogey 9 on the 610-yard 10th hole and had a bogey on No. 11. Hatzenbuehler then quickly turned things around by posting five-consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, closing the round out with back-to-back pars for a 69.
Hatzenbuehler jumped up 14 spots on the individual leaderboard to sole possession of fourth place at 2-over 218. Hatzenbuehler trails individual leader Miles Bollinger of Indian Hills by six strokes entering the final round.
Duquaine and Scullion are in the Individual Top 20 after three rounds.
Duquaine is tied for 13th at 223. The Blue Dragon freshman had a rough start playing the first six holes in 6-over par. But birdies on holes 9, 10 and 13 brought Duquaine back to 4-over 76 for the round.
Scullion continued to cut strokes off each round at nationals and jumped up 13 places in the individual standings. After rounds of 77 and 74, Scullion posted a 73 on Thursday and is tied for 16th at 224.
Jack Northgraves is tied for 34th at 229 after an 80 in the third round. Matt Vearncombe shot an 88 in the third round and is tied for 82nd at 242.