Northgraves leads Blue Dragons to record-tying seventh-straight conference golf title

NEWTON, Kan. — Jack Northgraves claimed the individual championship and Hutchinson Community College captured its seventh-consecutive Jayhawk Conference team title Monday at Sand Creek Station, tying the longest conference championship streak in Blue Dragon athletic history.

Northgraves, who finished at 1-under par 215 over 54 holes, won by three strokes over teammate Joe Austin and Garden City's Ilan Dufrenoy to become Hutchinson's 13th all-time KJCCC individual champion and the first since Alex Lindstrom in 2023.

The Blue Dragons, ranked sixth nationally, entered the final round with a commanding 21-stroke lead and closed with a 297 to finish at 875 — a margin of 24 strokes over runner-up Garden City, which shot 300 Monday and finished at 899. Dodge City was third at 909 after a final-round 301.

The seven-straight conference titles tie the Blue Dragon men's basketball teams from 1982 to 1988 for the most consecutive years any Hutchinson athletic program has won a conference championship. It was the program's 14th all-time KJCCC team championship, all earned under head coach Chris Young.

"They were the only team in the field to shoot three rounds under 300 across two days of windy conditions," a reflection of the Blue Dragons' dominance in the tournament. Hutchinson opened with a 282, followed by a 296 and the closing 297.

Northgraves, who also won the Bent Tree Intercollegiate in 2024 for his first collegiate title, stumbled early in the final round with bogeys on holes 2 and 3 before steadying himself with birdies on Nos. 4, 9 and 16 to card a 71 — one of only two rounds under par on the day.

Four Blue Dragons earned first-team all-KJCCC honors: Northgraves, Austin, Hugo Duquaine and Corey Scullion.

Austin, one of five individual qualifiers for Hutchinson, shot a 74 Monday and tied for second at 2-over 218. He is the fourth Blue Dragon to finish as the individual runner-up in the conference meet and the first since Charlie Box in 2024.

Duquaine and Scullion tied for fourth at 4-over 220. Duquaine carded an even-par 72 in the final round while Scullion posted an 80.

Grant Hatzenbuehler and Matt Vearcombe earned second-team all-conference recognition. Hatzenbuehler tied for sixth at 6-over 222 after shooting his third-straight round of 74. Vearcombe also finished at 222 following a final-round 72.

Freshman Hudson Sauder earned honorable mention after tying for 14th with a 231, shooting a 79 Monday. Cal Schultz finished 19th at 234, Ronnie Gibb tied for 20th at 236 and Lincoln Barnes placed 29th at 242.

Hutchinson next competes at the Region 6 championship Monday, April 20 and Tuesday, April 21 at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan.