NIACC men place 6th at DMACC Spring Invite

ANKENY - The NIACC men's golf team placed sixth at the DMACC Spring Invitational on Monday at the Otter Creek Golf Course.

NIACC shot a 302-317 - 619 in the 36-hole tournament. Iowa Western was the team champion with a 284-284 - 568 and Iowa Central was second with a 286-299 - 585.

"We played really well (Monday) overall," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said, "and we still have room to improve, which is great.

"Thirty-six holes is a grind in windy and hot conditions and they fought to the end."

The rounds of 302 and 317 both bettered the previous season low team score for the Trojans, who shot 327 twice earlier this season.

NIACC was led by freshman JJ Wickman, who tied for 20th in the individual medalist competition with a 73-79 - 152. The 73 is a career best for Wickman, whose previous low score was a 75 at the NIACC Fall Invitational on Sept. 18, 2020.

"JJ Wickman was really good (Monday) as he does such a great job of staying in the moment and mentally evaluating each shot," Frenz said.

Other counting scores for the Trojans were Jack Barragy (75-78 - 153), John Doherty (79-77 - 156) and Kai Nelles (75-83 - 158). Beau Thompson shot a 81-86 - 167.

The 75 by Barragy was a career-best round. Barragy's previous career best was a 76 at the Waldorf University Fall Invitational on Sept. 27, 2020.

Also for the Trojans, Tyler Eaton shot a 85-82 - 167 and Hunter Heintz shot a 85-87 - 172.

"It was great to see Jack Barragy put together a solid round," Frenz said. "He hit the ball really off the tee and scrambled at times nicely. The putter let him down a couple of times, but he's making a move in the right direction.

"Kai Nelles continued his solid play before his back kind of tightened up on him in the second round. John Doherty and Beau Thompson battled through some adversity to still bring home good scores."

NIACC returns to action Friday and Saturday at the Iowa Central Spring Invitational.

Team standings - Iowa Western 284-284 - 568; Iowa Central 286-299 - 585; DMACC 305-304 - 609; Hawkeye CC 308-301 - 609; Southeast CC 299-315 - 614; NIACC 302-317 - 619; Luther College 310-314 - 624; Mount Mercy University 305-320 - 625; Southwestern 314-314 - 628; Grand View University 321-330 - 651; Central College 323-329 - 652.