College golf: Jeffers, Myers take different paths to find success at OC

Players have to be among the nation's elite to be a member of the Odessa College men's golf team.

Jordan Jeffers and Ryan Myers are a study in contrasts on the Odessa College team, but they both have caught the eyes of Division I schools and earned scholarships.

Not many would have thought that Jeffers would have been able to play at OC when he was coming out of high school two years ago.
Jeffers, a redshirt freshman from Dalhart, never went to the Class 3A UIL state championships.

He never won a regional title, and he didn't have many recruiters chasing after him.

Odessa College coach Paul Chavez decided to bring him into the program, and now Jeffers will be a part a trip to the NJCAA Men's Golf National Championships this week in Huntsville, Ala., Jeffers also has earned a scholarship to Houston Baptist, an NCAA Division I school.

"I never imagined this," Jeffers said. "I just wanted to pursue golf to see if I could even play in college, and it all worked out."

Chavez heard about Jeffers, saw him play and offered him a scholarship - and the rest is history.

"If you put up a picture of working your tail off and improving, (Jeffers') face would be on it," Chavez said. "He's 6-5 with a lot of athletic ability. I've been amazed with his development over the last eight months."

Jeffers played football, basketball and golf at Dalhart, and the he was on teams that advanced to the playoffs in both football and basketball. He was going to pursue basketball in college, but he broke his ankle during his senior year and decided to play golf instead.

"I was just talented enough in high school to come here," Jeffers said. "I ask myself every day how this all worked out."

Myers, on the other hand, was very well-known. The sophomore from Tyler was all set to go to Texas Tech until the Red Raiders backed out and left Myers without a college.

Joseph Totah, Myers' friend, helped recruit him to Odessa College.

"I've known him since I was 10, and he told me about the school," Myers said. "I came and visited it and liked it."

Myers earned a scholarships to TCU, a school he chose because of its competitive schedule and its closeness to home.

"They travel more than anyone else and have a great schedule," Myers said. "I've always wanted to play D-I and get to play on all of those nice courses. It is just a great opportunity."

The Basics

>> What: NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship.

>> When: Today through Friday.

>> Course: Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, River Course.

>> Where: Huntsville, Ala.

>> Today's tee times: Odessa College, 7-7:40 a.m.; Midland College, 8:40-9:20 a.m. (10-minute intervals)

>> Wednesday's tee times: Odessa College, 12:40-1:20 p.m.; Midland College, 11-11:40 a.m. (10-minute intervals)

>> Thursday's tee times: TBD (determined by position of teams after Round 2)

>> Friday's tee times: TBD (determined by position of teams after Round 3)

>> On the Net:
The tournament -- www.njcaa.org
The course -- www.rtjgolf.com
The scores -- www.golfstat.com