Jorge Parada Leads SMCC Men's Golf with Second Place Finish at ENMU-Ruidoso High Country Shootout
PHOENIX ---
Jorge Parada of the SMCC men's golf team tied for first at the ENMU-Ruidoso High Country Shootout at -18 (198) from Sept. 22-23 at The Links at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso, N.M., to help lead the Cougars to a sixth-place team finish. Facing a group of NJCAA Division I opponents, including defending National Champion New Mexico Junior College, the Cougars were 22-under (842), with Kenny Taylor, James Rogers, and Jaxson Wright all finishing under par over the three rounds.
As a team, SMCC was sixth with scores of -1 (287), -14 (274), and -7 (281). They were three strokes behind Western Texas for fifth and 33 behind Odessa JC (TX) and Midland (TX), who split the team title.
Although he ultimately lost individual medalist honors in a playoff, Parada carded rounds of five-under 67, 10-under 62, and three-under 69 to find himself atop the leaderboard. In his first round, he carded seven birdies, including six over a seven-hole span across the front nine. He posted the best individual round for any competitor in his second 18, recording 10 birdies and eight pars. In the third round, he added six more birdies to his total.
Taylor was 20th at -8 (208) with scores of two-under 70, four-under 68, and two-under 70. He had four birdies in his first round, five birdies and an eagle in round two, and six birdies in the third.
Rogers finished 22nd at -6 (210) with scores of three-under 69, four-under 68, and one-over 73. He carded four birdies and an eagle in the first round, four birdies and an eagle in the second, and six in the third round.
Wright moved up 14 places on the leaderboard after a third-round score of four-under 68 to finish at -1 (215) and tie for 34th. He posted scores of five-over 77, two-under 70, and four-under 68. He had one birdie in his first round, four in the second, and six in the third.
Adam Croix also finished strong, jumping three spots to tie for 38th at E (216) with rounds of two-over 74, one-under 71, and one-under 71. He carded four birdies in his first round, three birdies and an eagle in the second, and three birdies and an eagle in the third round.
Basil Strolz improved by five spots on the final leaderboard to tie for 40th with a final round one-under 71 to finish at +1 (217). He also recorded rounds of six-over 77 and three-under 69. He had three birdies over the first 18 holes, three birdies and an eagle in the second round, and five in his third round.
Luke Padilla was 43rd at +2 (218) with scores of two-over 74, one-under 71, and one-over 73. He had three birdies in his first round, seven birdies in his second round, and three birdies and an eagle in the third.
Randy Weis finished tied for 55th at +8 (224) with scores of even-par 72, one-under 71, and nine-over 81. Weis recorded three birdies and two eagles in the first round, six in the second, and two birdies and an eagle in the third.
