The Odessa College Golf team is yet again enjoying another championship season under NJCAA and WJCAC Hall of Famer, Paul Chavez.  Coach Chavez has been with the Wranglers for 19 years and has brought home 2 National Championships and 13 Top 5 finishes.  The Wranglers are gearing up for another National Championship appearance in Melbourne, Florida, which marks their 17^th consecutive and 18^th overall National Tournament appearance under Coach Chavez.  The rich tradition of Odessa College athletics has led to a total of 8 Golf National Championships, and this year Coach Chavez and his players will look to bring home the 9^th.

 

This season has been different for Coach Chavez as his team has a total of 9 players with 8 of them being freshman.  Coach Chavez stated, "Each year we usually carry 3 or 4 sophomores who lead the team and set the right example for the freshman.  This season we have 8 freshman who are trying to figure it out as they go".  Coach Chavez continued by saying, "We are very talented but lack that consistent leadership that sophomores usually bring year in and year out.  If we play four great rounds of golf in Florida, and are fortunate enough to win another National Championship, no one will even know that they were freshman."  The Wranglers are led by freshman, Adam Blomme', who is ranked the #1 golfer in District 2, and fellow freshman Augustine Hole', who is ranked #4 in District 2.

 

This season, the Wranglers have won 3 team championships, including the Texas State Championship, the High Country Shootout, and the NJCAA Fall National Preview.  The Wranglers also finished with 5 runner-up finishes.  The OC Golf team is excited for this year's National Tournament because of their recent success in the National Tournament Preview this past fall.  The Wranglers competed on the same course in Melbourne, Florida, where they finished tied for 1st.  Along with great team play, the Wranglers have combined for 6 individual titles, 2 of them being the NJCAA Southwest Tournament, and the NJCAA District 2 Tournament, both won by Adam Blomme'.  The OC golf team currently has 5 of their 9 golfers ranked in the top 70 nationally.  Adam Blomme' is ranked #5, Augustin Hole' is #10, Dustin Lewis is #26, Van Thomas is #28, and Conner Bjugstad is #64.

 

The Wranglers were able to qualify 5 players (1 alternate) for the National Tournament.  The qualifiers consisted of Adam Blomme', Augustine Hole', Van Thomas, Conner Bjugstad, Dustin Lewis, and Kevin Pourasef.  With the latest NJCAA poll coming out, the Wranglers are ranked #4 in the Nation.  This year's National Tournament will begin on May 17^th and finish up on May 20^th.