Lubbock, Texas -- In its first meet of the spring, the Indian Hills Warriors showed up in midseason form, rolling to an easy victory in the Arbor Hotels Classic, topping a 15-team field. IHCC sophomore Ricky Sanders showed that he is intent on defending the medalist trophy he earned in last year's NJCAA national championship with a nine-stroke win in the individual competition.
The Warriors led Dallas Baptist by three shots after Monday's opening 18 holes, then steadily pulled away over the next 36 holes. The final margin was at 22 strokes after IHCC put together rounds of 298, 280 and 293 over the Rawls Course. The 280 represented the lowest team score of the tourney.
Sanders began the season in impressive fashion. He started with a two-under par 70, followed with a seven-under 65 for the best individual round of the event, and ended with another 70 to get to the clubhouse at 11-under par 205. That was nine shots better than runnerup Joaquin Arguelles of Dallas Baptist.
For Sanders it was a dominating performance. He led everyone in birdies with 15, and was the low scorer (-2) on the par-3 holes and was also tops on the par-fours (-5).
Freshman Joe Kim also served notice of the kind of season he is capable of, finishing third with a score of 217. Kim had his problems in the opening round, shooting 78, but regrouped to go 68-71 over the next two rounds. He wound up three shots out of second place and two ahead of the fourth place golfer, Michael Valk of Wayland Baptist.
Two other Warriors made it into the top 20. Julien Sale, a sophomore, who led the field with 38 pars, fired a 227 that included an even-par 72 in the middle round. Sophomore Clayton Larsen tied for 18th at 228. His best round was a 73 in the first 18 holes.
Maxime Leclerc, the fifth member of the Warriors' title-winning team, tied for 30th at 230. His scores got progressively better during the meet and the freshman shot two-over 74 to end the tourney.
Indian Hills, which won three of the four meets it played last fall, returns to action in the Heritage Hills Intercollegiate in Louisville, Kentucky Mar. 17-18.
Arbor Hotels Classic
Team scores (top 10):
- Indian Hills 298-280-293=871; 2. Dallas Baptist 301-287-305=893; 3. Wayland Baptist 308-290-296=894; 4. St. Mary's (TX) 304-295-301; 5. Texas A&M International 316-291-302=909; 6. Lubbock Christian 306-296-311=913; T7. Western New Mexico 314-295-307=916; T7. Newman 316-292-308=916; 9. Odessa 319-291-312=922; 10. Western Texas 309-304-311=92
Indian Hills scores:
1. Ricky Sanders 70-65-70=205; 3. Joe Kim 78-68-71=217; T15. Julien Sale 77-72-78=227; T18. Clayton Larsen 73-75-80=228; T30. Maxime Leclerc 80-76-74=230