News

By Alex Freeman, MCC Communications Coordinator

The men’s golf team at Montcalm Community College had a banner-worthy season in 2025, winning the NJCAA Region XII Division II Championship and qualifying for the national tournament for the first time in school history. 

There was a bit of unknown with the team, however, after losing top golfers Ethan Johnson and Zach Johnson, as well as Jerald Brownell, to graduation, and reloading with six freshmen this season. So far, however, the veteran golfers are thriving with the leadership torch in their possession, and one sophomore is standing above the rest with his scores. 

Sophomore Mason Blair (Holt, Mich.) was named the MCCAA Western Conference Golfer of the week for Sept. 8-14 after shooting a score of 72, placing first among a field of 54 golfers, at the Kirtland Community College Invitational Sept. 8.  

“Winning the first conference golfer of the week award of the season means a lot,” Blair said. “It shows that some of my hard work is starting to pay off.” 

Blair's performance comes on the heels of rounds of 74 and 75 at the Lawrence Tech Collegiate Kickoff Tournament on Sept. 2-3, where he finished tied for fourth among a field of 60 golfers where MCC was the only two-year school in attendance. Finishing strong in his freshman season, MCC head coach Doug Harkema noted that Blair is off to a fantastic start to his sophomore campaign. 

“With that many guys on the course, to tie for first at Kirtland, it’s a great victory,” Harkema said. “He’s playing really well right now, he’s full of confidence. He was excellent last year, as well, but he’s growing his game and he’s kept his momentum going into this season, which is nice to see.” 

Blair finds himself in a new role this season. No longer is he just the cousin of standout sophomores Zach and Ethan Johnson like he was last season — he’s looked to as a team leader. 

“I find it fun to pick their brains a little bit and see how they see the game compared to me,” Blair said. “I enjoy helping them if they need some advice on how to make the game a little easier.” 

Golf is a difficult game to be consistent in — a hard lesson that some of the freshmen on the team are learning. During this developmental time in the fall, Blair has shown great consistency, which inherently adds to his leadership qualities. 

“He’s been wonderful with the young guys and he’s definitely one of our leaders,” Harkema said. 

Given Blair’s success as a freshman, ranking first in the MCCAA and third in the region, he had opportunities to go to a different school to continue his golf career. Choosing to return this season had a lot to do with the bonds he built with coach Harkema and his teammates. 

“I chose to stay because I didn’t think I could find a better coach elsewhere,” Blair said. “Coach Hark pushes me to be my best and he keeps me locked in mentally when I’m having a bad day on the course. Along with that, the bond I built with Kenny Mitchell and Ryan Clingenpeel made me want to run it back for another year.” 

Major competitions, such as conference, regional and national tournaments, won’t take place until the spring season. It doesn’t change how Blair prepares, however, as he has a singular goal in mind each time he steps onto the course. 

“Every time I arrive at an event, whether it’s regionals or just another invitational in the fall season, I still have the same goal in mind, and that is to win,” he said. 

Blair and the Centurions will continue their fall season on Friday, Sept. 19, at the Oakland Community College Invitational at Fieldstone Golf Club in Auburn Hills.