SMCC Men's Golf, Jorge Parada Claim NJCAA Region I Championships
PHOENIX ---
Jorge Parada finished at -5 (279) over four rounds of play to win Individual Medalist honors at the NJCAA Region I Division II Championships April 21-24 at Ocotillo Golf Course in Chandler, Ariz. Jaxson Wright placed second at +1 (285), and Adam Croix took third at +7 (291) to help lead the Cougars to the Team Championship, which SMCC claimed at +18 (1,154) to win the event by 32 strokes.
Parada was the only competitor to finish under par for the event. He went under par in his final three rounds of competition, including back-to-back rounds of three-under 68. Parada opened with a two-over 73 behind a pair of birdies on April 21 and followed that up with a round of one-under 70 that featured three birdies.
On Moving Day, Parada posted a three-under 68 with three birdies on the front nine and two birdies and an eagle-two on par-four No. 17. He closed with another round of three-under 68 with six birdies over the first 14 holes. Additionally, Parada received 2025 ACCAC Player of the Year honors for his work on the links this year.
Wright produced two rounds under par over the four days, posting a two-under 69 in the second and fourth rounds. He opened with a two-over 73, building momentum with three birdies over the final 10 holes. He carried that over to round two, where he posted five birdies, including four over the first six holes on the back nine.
He had one birdie in his third round to finish at three-over 74, and the final round saw Wright post five more birdies, including four over the final seven holes.
Croix started with a one-over 72 and three birdies and finished at even-par 71 in his second round with four birdies, including three over the final five holes.
He had two birdies in his third round to post a four-over 75 and closed with three birdies in his final round to finish at two-over 73. He earned 2025 First Team All-ACCAC honors.
Freshman Luke Padilla tied for ninth at +18 (302) with rounds of 71, 75, 79, and 77. He had five birdies in his first round and one in his second and final rounds.
Freshman Jack Taylor played the first round for the Cougars. He finished at one-over 72 with three birdies. He earned 2025 First Team All-ACCAC honors.
Freshman PJ Segerstrom played the third and fourth rounds, posting a 10-over 81 in the third and a four-over 75 on the final day. He had three birdies in his final round. He earned 2025 First Team All-ACCAC honors.
As a team, SMCC led after day one by eight strokes. The Cougars finished one-over in their second round to add four strokes to their lead and four on the third day. SMCC finished at one-over on the final day to pick up 16 additional strokes on the second-place finisher.
SMCC second-year head coach Marcus Smith received 2025 ACCAC Coach of the Year honors for leading the Cougars to the Regional Title.
The Cougars have now set their sights on the NJCAA Division II National Championships, which will be held from May 20 to 23 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Indiana.
