Ottumwa, IA – Sophomore Gaspar Glaudas (Sainte Tulle, France/Shattuck St-Mary's) of the No. 2 nationally ranked Indian Hills Men's Golf team is the No. 1 ranked player in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), announced in the initial Spikemark rankings that were released Wednesday.
Glaudas holds a sizable lead in the first individual rankings that were announced by Spikemark. The sophomore garnered 75.76 points after a dominant fall season that saw four top-10 finishes in the team's five events.
Glaudas is one of six individuals ranked inside the top-40 in the inaugural national individual rankings. Glaudas is joined by defending NJCAA DI Men's Golf National Champion Jose Miguel Ramirez (Maturin, Venezuela/Alejandro De Humboldt) who is ranked No. 9. Matias Koropeski (Posadas, Argentina/Instituto Posadas Educa) checked in at No. 33 followed by sophomore Shinji Aoki (Auckland, New Zealand/Rosmini College) at No. 34, Emilio Arellano Lamas (Aguascalientes, Mexico/Instituto Universitario Mexico) at No. 38 and Jose Carletta (Barquisimeto, Venezuela/Rioclaro) at No. 40.
Along with the individual rankings, the Warriors check in at No. 2 in the national team rankings, also announced Wednesday.
READ MORE: WARRIORS RANKED NO. 2 IN INITIAL SPIKEMARK POLL
Glaudas' No. 1 national ranking comes on the heels of an impressive fall where the sophomore took medalist honors at the Bog O Classic, a fourth-place finish at the Throw Down 'Up Top', a fifth-place finish at the Zach Johnson Invitational, and an eighth-place finish at the NJCAA National Preview. Glaudas produced six rounds of 69 or better and averaged a score of 68.75 in the four third-round performances. Glaudas' most impressive performance came at the Zach Johnson Invitational with an opening round 64, tied for the third-lowest round in school history.
Ramirez, last year's national medalist, opened the year with a second-place finish at the Folds of Honor Challenge and tied for 11th at the NJCAA National Preview.
Koropeski came on late for the Warriors, boasting a 16th place finish at the Throw Down 'Up Top' and tied for 11th at the NJCAA National Preview with a season-best score of 69 in the final round.
Aoki competed in all five events for the Warriors, placing 13th at the Folds of Honor Challenge and tied for 11th at the Throw Down 'Up Top' tournament.
Arellano's strongest effort of the fall season came at the Folds of Honor Challenge after firing a 4-over 146 to tie for 18th place overall.
Competing in four events throughout the fall, Carletta produced a 16th place finish at the Throw Down 'Up Top' and tied for 23rd overall at the Big O Classic.
The Warriors return to action in March with five events to tune up for the NJCAA DI Men's Golf National Championship May 14-17.
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