May 21, 2022, JOPLIN, Mo. – Difficult weather conditions at the NJCAA National Championship tournament cut the Grand Rapids Community College golf team's postseason run short after three rounds of golf this week at the Twin Hills Golf and Country Club.
Every team at the tournament was scheduled to play four rounds of golf. But due to the weather conditions the NJCAA committee opted to only send the top 12 teams to the final round of play. GRCC was among the teams not eligible to advance.
“The team was dedicated to making it to the finals and played with a purpose,” coach John Forton said. “It was all about us proving we belonged there, and it happened. Great effort by all involved.”
South Mountain Community College dominated the competition and finished 19 strokes ahead of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to win the national title.
At the end of three rounds, Arie Jackman (78-75-83) was leading GRCC with a score of 236 strokes. After two rounds, Jackman was tied for 35th place overall. After the third round, he was tied for 60th.
Matt Denhartigh had a strong finish to his GRCC career, shooting 76 in his final round to finish with 241.
Conner Oman shot 249 while fellow freshmen Brad VandenHout and Sam Foss shot a respectable 251 and 259.
The team tied for the conference championship this year, marking their 13th straight title. It also finished runner-up in the MCCAA and the region.
Jackman was named MCCAA and Region XII medalist to receive All-MCCAA and All-Region honors.
Denhartigh also earned All-MCCAA and All-Region honors after finishing in fourth place last weekend at the MCCAA/Region XII Tournament.
Oman finished his freshman campaign also as a member of the All-MCCAA team.