COLLEGE GOLF: Wranglers ready to host championships
May 9—The Odessa College golf program has been prepping for this week for three years.
Set to host the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division I Men's Golf Championships in the spring of 2020, the Wranglers saw their year-long plans disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That put Odessa College's drive toward a 10th national title on hold as the tournament was canceled.
Last year, the event moved two hours north to Lubbock, where the Wranglers finished second to Hutchinson (Kan.) on the Rawls Course.
Now, after a rebidding process, the Wranglers are ready for their delayed hosting duties.
"It should be a good week," Odessa College coach Paul Chavez said. "Two years ago everything shut down and then last year was in Lubbock.
"They normally like to move the tournament around the country, but we put in another bid and it was accepted."
The first round gets underway at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday on the Links Course at the Odessa Country Club, with the Wranglers set to begin their round closer to 8:30 a.m.
Odessa College, ranked fourth in the nation, will be paired with Eastern Florida State and New Mexico Junior College.
Top-ranked Midland College, Central Alabama and defending champion Hutchinson will be the first groups on the course.
Tee times will reverse on Wednesday, with Odessa College getting started in the afternoon.
After Wednesday's second round, schools will be paired according to the standings, with the leaders teeing off last.
Chavez said he prefers the Links Course to the Old Course because of it's length.
"It's a better tournament course, in my mind," he said. "It's long, 7,400-7,500 yards, and it makes you make decisions off the tee and with you approach shots.
"The players hit it so far that the Old Course isn't much of a challenge. This will be a good test for everyone."
One of the test that Chavez faced this season was finding a solid player at No. 5, with several different candidates taking their shot at locking down the spot.
The top four (Sangha Park, Marcelo Garza, Laurenz Kubin and Cameron Lopez) have been steady contributors all season.
Finally, Max Cooper stepped into the final spot after the holiday break.
Since Cooper is the first Wrangler to put a tee in the ground each round, taking control of the No. 5 spot has allowed the Wranglers to settle into a comfortable routine.
Which, as they play on their home course, could mean the difference between holding up a trophy late Friday afternoon or wondering for another season what might have been.
"The course is going to be getting firm and fast, just like we like it," Chavez said. "All the teams were here for the national preview in November, but the course is different then.
"We know how the course is going to play and need to take advantage of that. If we play our best, we have a chance to win."
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
