Bullard, Texas -- Indian Hills got an early-spring look at some of the teams they will likely be battling for the national title in May at this week's TankLogix Midland College/Green Tree Invitational. The Warriors finished the 36-hole event in 3rd place, trailing only champ Midland CC and Odessa College. IHCC got an outstanding performance from sophomore Joe Hodgson who ended up 3rd with a nine-under par score of 133, that included a six-under 65 on Tuesday.
Hodgson opened the tourney with a 68 and then beat that by three strokes in round two. There are only four rounds in IHCC golf history lower than his 65, which was one shot better than his round of 66 in last fall's Warrior Challenge. Hodgson's total of 133 was two strokes in back of the meet medalist, Markus Braadlie of Texas Tech.
The Indian Hills score of 555 included back-to-back under-par rounds of 279 and 276 and was just two shots behind runnerup Odessa. Midland, the host school for the tourney played at the par-71 Green Tree Country Club, finished 26-under, shooting 268 and 274.
Indian Hills' Harry Doig and Maxime Leclerc each had a round of two-under 69 and tied for 11th place at 140. George Clarke carded even-par 71s each day and tied for 20th at 142. Ethan Keane fired a two-under 69 on Monday -- giving IHCC golfers five rounds below par -- and came in tied for 40th. Jesse MacNaughtan tied for 48th after a two-over 73 in round two.
The Warriors bested ranked schools Ranger and New Mexico JC to finish 3rd. They were tied with those schools after the opening round, then outshot them by nine and 12 strokes, respectively, the second day.
The next action for Indian Hills will come in the Broncho Invitational in Edmond, Okla. Mar. 18-19.
TankLogix Midland College/Green Tree Invitational
Team scores (top 8):
- Midland CC 268-274=542; 2. Odessa 277-276=553; 3. Indian Hills 279=276=555; 4. Ranger 279-285=564; 5. New Mexico JC 279-288=567; 6. MeLennan CC 279-290=569; T7. Western Texas 291-283=574; T7. Garden City CC 288-286=574
Indian Hills scores:
3. Joe Hodgson 68-65=133; T11. Harry Doig 69-71=140; T11. Maxime Leclerc 71-69=140; T20. George Clarke 71-71=142; T40. Ethan Keane 69-77=146; T48. Jesse MacNaughtan 75-73=148