Mesa Sports Memories: Men's golf soars to national title
Since 1968 Mesa athletic teams have won a total of 20 national championships. But not until 2017 did the T-Birds get to celebrate right here in their own home town.
It was the men's golf team that did the trick with a thrilling five-shot victory on their own home course at Longbow in Mesa. Jeff Kelley's 25-foot put on the 18th hole made it official as MCC recorded its first men's golf championship in the NJCAA Division II event.
It was a long run for Mesa which was granted a host exemption after placing second at the Region I, Division II tournament nearly a month earlier. The T-Birds were anxious to take advantage of the situation, playing on their own home course.
MCC completed play in third place after the first round, down eight shots to Mississippi Gulf Coast. But the T-Birds exhibited a consistency that would serve them well in it's title chase. On that first day all five players fired at least a 74 and, in fact, there would only be one round higher than 75 for the entire four days.
It was Kelley with a one-under-par 70 who led the way on that first day of play, leading a group of four T-Birds who would eventually place in the top nine individually at the end.
But Mesa had an eight-shot deficit to overcome as day two arrived. This time it was Jacob Guess, with an even-par 71 and Dean Harpe, with a 72, who led the way. However, at the halfway point MCC found itself nine shots behind MGC and one shot in back of Murray (Ga.) State.
Day three saw MCC begin its charge. The T-Birds shot the best team round of the day, a 287, closing to within two shots of Mississippi Gulf Coast. Kelley again tool charge, equaling his first round 70, but was matched by Brad Pottle with a 70 of his own.
On the fourth day Mesa had already overcome the deficit at the turn and led by two. This time it was Harpe doing the most damage, carding four birdies on the first nine holes en route to a four-under 31.
Determined to maintain their lead the T-Birds finished strong with seven birdies over the final nine holes, three of them on the 18th hole by Gage Grimes, Pottle and Kelly who closed out the five-shot win over Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Kelley finished tied for third with a 287. Harpe was fifth at 289, one shot ahead of Guess. Pottle tied for ninth with a 290.
All four earned All-American honors with Kelley and Guess first team, Pottle second team and Grimes Honorable Mention.
Longbow, indeed, proved to be home sweet home.
