College golf: OC’s first team plays its way back to top spot

MIDLAND Joseph Totah said the difference from one tournament to the next one for the golfers on the Odessa College first team was just how things worked out.

That Odessa College unit finished in a tie for seventh place at the Harbor Lakes Invitational last week, while OC's second team won the rain-shortened tournament.

"All of us woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and (the second team) woke up on the right side," Totah said about the event in Granbury. "We had a bad day, and they had a good day."

It was time for OC I to have a good day on Monday as the team shot a two-round total of 573 to open a 16-shot lead after the first day of the two-day Midland College Invitational at GreenTree Country Club.

The OC I golfers didn't do anything different from what they did last week, but something obviously changed - and it wasn't just the addition of a different golfer in the fifth slot. They shot 8-under par in the first round and then 5-over in the second round to built its lead.

Midland College No. 2 is second at 589, while the Chaps' first team is third at 592. OC‘s second unit is fourth at 594.

"We all are competitive, but we want everyone to do good," Totah said. "We're getting there. If we play to our potential, we can be as good as last year."

Totah leads the tournament after a 4-under 68 in the first round and an even-par 72 in the second for a total of 140. Midland College's Daniel Shevill is second at 144, and teammate Dan Seaman is third at 145.

"The wind picked up (in the second round) and made it tough," Totah said. "Playing 36 holes is tough. Everyone gets tired."

The first tee times for OC players in today's round will be at 8:48 a.m. at GreenTree.

Totah and his teammates are hoping that a victory this week in the one tournament they play close to home will put them in the right direction toward winning their first national title since 2005.

"I think we can," he said. "That's everyone's goal on the team. If we play to our potential, we'll be tough to beat."

OC players Matthew Nolasco, Mark Penny and Jordan Jeffers are all tied for fourth with 146, while OC's Ryan Myers is tied for ninth with 147.

Midland College Invitational

Monday, At GreenTree Country Club, Midland

Team Scores
(After 2 of 3 Rounds)
1. Odessa College I, 280-293-573; 2. Midland College II, 296-293-589; 3. Midland College I, 306-286-592; 4. Odessa College II, 298-296-594; 5. Frank Phillips College II, 309-300-609; 6. Western Texas College, 313-301-614; 7. New Mexico Military Institute, 314-316-630; 8. Frank Phillips College I, 325-324-649.

Top 10 Medalists
1. Joseph Totah, Odessa College I, 68-72-140; 2. Daniel Shevill, Midland College I, 75-69-144; 3. Dan Seaman, Midland College II, 69-76-145; t 4. Matthew Nolasco, Odessa College II, 72-74-146; and Patrick Solberg, Midland II, 77-69-146; and Jordan Jeffers, Odessa College I, 75-71-146; and Thomas Corkum, Odessa College II, 73-73-146; and Mark Penny, Odessa College I, 74-72-146; t 9. Ryan Myers, Odessa College I, 69-78-147; and Conor Zokol, Midland College, 74-73-147.

Individual Results
Odessa College I (280-293-573): Joseph Tota, 68-72-140; Jordan Jeffers, 75-71-146; Mark Penny, 74-72-146; Ryan Myers, 69-78-147; Landon Waters, 69-80-149.
Midland College II (296-293-589): Dan Seaman, 69-76-145; Patrick Solberg, 77-69-146; Matthew Law, 74-75-149; Alan Larby, 77-73-150; Bryston Jiminez, 76-83-159.
Midland College I (306-286-592): Daniel Shevill, 75-69-144; Tommy Sikes, 76-72-148; Dave Thomas, 82-69-151; Henrich Frylinck, 76-77-153; Tyler Sheppard, 79-76-155.
Odessa College II (298-296-594): Matthew Nolasco, 72-74-146; Thomas Corkum, 73-73-146; Kris Harper, 78-73-151; Ross Leeds, 75-77-152; Vincent Castro, 79-76-155.
Frank Phillips College II (309-300-609): Corey Steger, 75-74-149; Ross Noon, 80-72-152; Tyler Fernandez, 80-73-153; Julian Figueroa, 76-81-157; Alex Hauser, 78-87-165.
Western Texas College (313-301-614): A.J. Pursley, 74-76-150; Jay Weaver, 81-71-152; Trent Reiner, 79-76-155; Josh Hart, 79-78-157; Robert Young, 82-83-165.
New Mexico Military Institute (314-316-630): Brooks Stepolis, 77-73-150; Jonathan Allen, 75-76-151; Corey Jones, 83-82-165; Spencer Cook, 79-87-166; Matt Powell, 83-85-168.
Frank Phillips College I (325-324-649): Jeremy Osborn, 78-79-157; Aaron Estel, 82-80-162; Tyler Hanes, 79-84-163; Josh Logan, 86-81-167; H.J. Swender, 87-92-179.

Medalists: Conor Zokol, Midland College, 74-73-147; Curt McCormac, Midland College, 79-78-157; Garrett Zokol, Odessa College, 83-76-159; Max Cunningham, Odessa College, 76-85-161; Chance Cain, Midland College, 80-82-162; Jeff Stashuk, Odessa College, 84-80-164.