Pioneers, Smedema close fall with wins

Results
Joshua Smedema and the Wayland Baptist men's golf team ended their fall season with a bang, not only claiming individual and team titles at the Chicken Express Invitational but setting records in the process.
  Led by Smedema's first collegiate victory, the Pioneers claimed first place by seven strokes in front of a powerful Midland College team for their second tournament victory of the five-event fall. Wayland, ranked eighth in the NAIA, also won the Mid-South Classic in Newton, Kan., in September.

"I'm very proud of this group of guys. I'm proud of the way they handle themselves on the course, off the course, in the classroom…," Wayland coach Tom Harp said.

The Pioneers followed Monday's program-record round 18-under 266 – which eclipsed an 11-under 269 shot in March 2018 at Primm Valley Golf Course in Nevada – with a 271 Tuesday for a 31-under 537 total. Midland College, the top-ranked team among junior colleges, was second at 267-277—544. Western Texas was a distant third, 20 shots behind Midland in the seven-team field.

Smedema, after breaking the school record Monday with a personal tournament career-best 8-under 63, closed with another hot round Tuesday, 67, for a 12-under 130. That left the sophomore from South Africa two shots in front of senior teammate Sentanio Minnie, who after a 67 Monday carded the low round (by two shots) of 65 Tuesday to finish at 132, tied for second with Jake Leatherwood of Western Texas (63-69—132).

Smedema, who on Monday recorded just four pars to go with 10 birdies, four bogeys and an eagle on the par-4 fifth hole, on Tuesday produced six pars, seven birdies, three bogeys, one double and an eagle on the par-4 16^th. Smedema, whose best score at PCC in practice is 62, played holes 15-18 5-under.

"It was a great win for him," Harp said. "There were some quality players in the field here. Midland, Ranger and Western Texas all have talented young guys with a lot of big futures. It may not have been a huge field, but it was a great win for Josh and the team.

"What he did (Monday) was awesome."

Minnie, meanwhile, was bogey-free Tuesday. He eagled the par-5 first then added four birdies.

"What a great finish for Sentanio for the semester. Good for him," Harp said.

Jake Craft, a sophomore from Artesia, wound up tied for fourth place with rounds of 65-69—134.

"Jake has been getting better and better and now more and more consistent," Harp said. "He's doing more of the little things right. He has a great attitude to keep grinding. When he makes a mistake his bounce-back has been incredible. He will be big for us next semester."

Rounding out Wayland's team were senior Sebastien Tremulot (71-70—141), who finished alone in 13^th place, and sophomore Johannes Hounsgaard (74-71—145) who tied for 18^th in the 42-golfer field. 

"One thing I noticed today was although our guys know this course like the back of their hand, they didn't take it for granted," Harp said. "They went on and did the work they were supposed to do. They all know these greens very well, but (before their approach shots) they still took the time to walk all the way up to the green, which was awesome to see. To do that on a course you know isn't always easy, and I love our team doing that. It mean's they've bought into going through the right process."

Playing as individuals for Wayland were Zane Welborn (74-72—146), who tied for 21^st, and Daniel Castro (75-79—154), who tied for 33^rd. Oskar Olsen, after a 76 Monday, withdrew Tuesday.

The Pioneers now will take a three-month break from competition before beginning their spring schedule in February.

"It will be good to take a break and then go back to work and get ready for next semester," Harp said.