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The Montcalm Community College Centurions men’s golf team season came to an end, placing fifth at the NJCAA Region XII Championship at Bedford Valley Golf Course in Battle Creek, May 4-5. 

Mott Community College and Marian-Ancilla placed first and second, respectively, which both teams qualified to move on to the NJCAA’s Division II National Championships. As a team, Mott shot +66, with Ancilla finishing +68. Grand Rapids Community College finished third (+83) and Delta College took fourth (+84). Fifth-place Montcalm finished with a team score of +86. 

Ancilla’s Hunter Zdyb had an excellent two-day showing, shooting -6, finishing first amongst the field of individuals. Sophomore Mason Blair (Holt, Mich.), wrapped up his career with MCC finishing fourth overall, shooting +12 during the 54-hole tournament. Freshman teammate Landon Elder (Louisville, Ky.) finished 10th overall, shooting +19.  

Rounding out MCC’s team results were Chase Couchman (Holly, Mich.), who finished 16th among Region XII golfers, shooting +26, followed by freshman Spencer Denney (Battle Creek, Mich.), who finished 22nd (+29), and sophomore Kenny Mitchell (Cedar Springs, Mich.), who placed 34th (+36).  

After winning the Regional XII title and qualifying for nationals last year, MCC head coach Doug Harkema was hoping his team of two sophomores and five freshmen could find their way back there but fell short. 

“It’s disappointing we didn’t make the top two at regionals and get to go to nationals, but I’m not disappointed in the team,” Harkema said. “Golf is kind of weird. You can’t win (regionals) on the first day, but you can lose it, but we didn’t. We were nine strokes back of second place after the first day, but then we just didn’t play particularly well on Tuesday.” 

With Mott and Ancilla having consistently played well throughout the spring season and coming into regionals as the favorites, Harkema said his team had to play “rock solid” if it were to take one of the two qualifying spots. One thing the team was missing, Harkema said, was more experience, with only Blair and Mitchell having returned from last year’s regional championship team.  

MCC did have a third sophomore, Ryan Clingenpeel, who played the first semester, however, he was not eligible to play the second semester. 

“When you lose a guy like him, you lose that experience that helps in events like this,” Harkema said. “We felt like we had freshmen coming in that could fill his shoes, but that never materialized. At least not in a consistent way. Had we had him, I think it would’ve made a difference.” 

Harkema said because three freshmen had to fill the scorecard, it may have put extra pressure on them to perform or, he said, they just weren’t ready for the next level yet. 

“Both me and assistant coach Zack Gascoyne thought these guys would be right there, and they were many times this season. But it just didn’t happen on our last day.” 

The Centurions had several top-five finishes throughout the spring season, including two third-place finishes in back-to-back tournaments (Marian University Ancilla and Muskegon Community College invitationals) and won its home tournament, held at Glenkerry Golf Course in Greenville, April 24, tying Ancilla in first place and defeating Mott. 

Harkema said he will miss his two graduating sophomores, Blair and Mitchell. 

“Mason was the heart and soul of our team this year. He’s a great player with an even better attitude,” Harkema said. “He leaves a lasting mark on this young program, the most accomplished and successful player in Centurion golf’s young history.” 

Mitchell was a solid team player, according to Harkema. 

“We’re going to miss him,” Harkema said. “He’s a hard worker, a good leader. He is one of those guys that you know he is going to give it his all. He is a true team guy.” 

As for his five freshmen — Elder, Couchman, Denney, Joey Mario (Battle Creek, Mich.) and Ethan Wempen (Hartsburg, Mo.) — Harkema is expecting them all to return next season, setting him up with a solid sophomore-dominated team to go with the five players he recently recruited.  

“I think we’re in a good spot next year, especially if they get after it this summer and get a little better,” Harkema said. “With being able to have a strong recruiting class coming in, I think we just reload and get back to it.”