Cobras Golf Wins Back-to-Back Region 24 Championships
Team advances to third straight NJCAA Division II Championship May 21-24
FRENCH LICK, Ind. — No. 6 Parkland College won its second straight Region 24 Championship to advance to its third straight NJCAA Division II Championship. Leading by 31 strokes entering the final day, the Cobras added 11 more strokes to their lead on the final day to cruise to the team title. Sophomore Kristian Kristensen earned Region 24 medalist honors, while Jalen Hodges (2nd), Mason Ghidina (T3rd), Evan MacLean (6th) and Jack Halstead (9th) also earned All-Region honors. Parkland head coach Corbin Sebens was named Region 24 Coach of the Year.
“I’m proud of the guys for getting the job done this weekend,” said head coach Corbin Sebens. “The course was very difficult, and the conditions were challenging, but we played with confidence and resiliency. Everyone contributed which is what we needed. Kristian and Jalen played like All Americans all weekend. Having all 5 guys earn All-Region is a great accomplishment.”
Dominating the tournament through all three rounds on Sunday and Monday, the Cobras (291+294+296 = 881) shot below 300 as a team on all three days with all three scores better than any single round by the other five teams. Rend Lake finished behind the Cobras in second to earn the second bid to NJCAA Championships next week, May 21-24, in Plymouth, Indiana.
The third straight year with an individual champion, Kristiensen carded two rounds with a 71 (+1), leading the first and final rounds of play. Joining Andreas Nielsen and Tyler Woods as medalists from 2017 and 2018, Kristensen closed with a 2-under back nine on Friday with three birdies. The 2018 All-American tied his third best round of the season with his pair of 1-over rounds.
Holding on to runner-up by a stroke over Noah Benbow (ICC) and teammate Mason Ghidina, Jalen Hodges finished 6-over on Monday and 12-over for the tournament. The second-place finish tied Hodge’s best finish of the season, tying his performance at the Wildcat Invite on April 22.
Finishing in a tie for third, Ghidina birdied two holes in his final round, posting a final round score of 76. Finishing 13-over for the tournament, the third-place finish marks the best of the season for Ghidina.
After a rough second round on Sunday, Evan MacLean bounced back with his best round of the tournament on Monday. Finishing 3-over on the day, the first-year Cobra birdied two holes in the final round, including his final hole of the day.
Taking ninth place, Jack Halstead rounded out the field at +26 for the tournament. Despite finishing 13-over on Monday, Halstead held off three opposing golfers for the top-10 finish.
Up next, the No. 6 Cobras will compete at the four-round NJCAA DII Championship in Plymouth, Indiana. The four-day tournament will be played at Swan Lake Golf Resort.