(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

The Hutchinson Community College men’s golf team had a strong finish to place in the Top 5 at the NCAA Division II Ryan Palmer Foundation Classic on September 10 in Lubbock, TX.

That finish helped the Blue Dragons start at No. 4 in the first NJCAA Golf Coaches Association Division I rankings of the season, which were released on Thursday.

The Blue Dragons are currently ranked No. in the Bushnell/Golfweek NJCAA Rankings.

The big key to that finish in Lubbock was the fact that Hutchinson was the top-finishing NJCAA team in the field. Moreover, the Blue Dragons finished ahead of perennial national power and District III rival Indian Hills, albeit by one stroke.

Defending national champion Central Alabama is No. 1 in the first rankings of the season. Midland is No. 2, followed by New Mexico Junior college, Hutchinson and Indian Hills.

Other Region VI/District III teams in this week’s rankings are Iowa Western at No. 8, Dodge City at No. 14 and Garden city at No. 14.

The Blue Dragons next compete in the Missouri Southern Fall Invitational at Shangri-La Golf Club in Monkey Island, Oklahoma.

The next fall rankings will be October 17.