OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg Jamestown Community College’s Noah Adams (Mayville/Chautauqua Lake CS) lines up a putt on No. 5 at Chautauqua Golf Course during the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Championships.

CHAUTAUQUA — Jamestown Community College coach George Sisson sat in a cart adjacent to the putting green on the Lake Course at Chautauqua Golf Club on Tuesday afternoon and talked about the performance of his team on the first day of the NJCAA Division III Championships.

As he spoke, his players were working on their short game around and on the putting green a stone’s throw away.

Sisson is hoping that practice makes perfect.

So far, so good.

“I’m happy that we performed on the first day well enough to buy some confidence team-wise,” he said. ” … I’m really happy for some guys and I know (others) who can trim some strokes even more.

“Overall, it was a perfect day. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day.”

Led by a 3-over 75 from Traden Gray (Frewsburg/Frewsburg Central School) and a 5-over 77 from Brady Fye (Lakewood/Southwestern), the Jayhawks shot a 318 and are in third place, trailing Sandhills CC (292) and Georgia Military College (301).

The other scores that counted for Jamestown CC were Anthony Gullo (Jamestown/Jamestown), who fired an 80; and Austyn Cummings (Warren, Pennsylvania/Warren Area), who shot an 86. Noah Adams (Mayville/Chautauqua Lake) recorded an 87, but his round was tossed out.

“Anthony will respond, because he’s a good competitor and he has the tool set to get better,” Sisson said. “Both (he and Gray) are very, very capable. Now it’s about letting go of today and finding your way on the course tomorrow.”

Gray got off to quite a start to his first round. Starting his day on No. 10, he posted an eagle, finished the day with 12 pars and is tied for eighth place with three others.

Fye also had a fine day, carding a season-best round and is in a three-way tie for 15th. Highlighting his day were four birdies on his final nine.

See NJCAA, Page B2

“If we can just maintain our composure and concentration through each day, get through it and continue to be relevant, crazy things start to happen,” Sisson said.

Individually, Alex Martin of Sandhills CC was the medalist with a 68, one shot ahead of Nick Johnson of Georgia Military College. Rounding out the top five are Ben Read of Sandhills CC, 72; Sean Barrett of Niagara County CC, 73; and Lane Jenkins of Hudson Valley CC, Nathan Hellar of Jefferson CC and Troy Loughry of Butler County CC, all with a 74.

Among the women, Oxford College of Emory leads the way in team scores with a 393, followed by Gloucester with a 420.

Trinity Ahing of Sandhills CC was the individual medalist, firing a 74, five shots ahead of teammate Ava Ray. Rounding out the top five are Ellia Soydara of Minnesota Community & Technical College and Scotty Foley of Sandhills CC, who each shot an 84; and Julia Bazata of Oxford, who registered an 86.

Today, the Jayhawks begin their second round on the front nine with the following tee times: Cummings, 10:21 a.m.; Adams, 10:30 a.m.; Fye, 10:39 a.m.; Gullo, 10:48 a.m. and Gray, 10:57 a.m.

“We do have some goals,” Sisson said. “I think there’s a purpose of what we want to do and what we want to see.”

Team Scores

Sandhills CC 292, Georgia Military College 301, Jamestown CC 318, Butler CC 321; DuPage CC 323, Onondaga CC 327, Minnesota Community & Technical College 330, Nassau CC 330, RCSJ Gloucester 352, Terra State CC 355, Holyoke CC 433.

Individual Scores

Top 30

Alex Martin Sandhills CC 68

Nick Johnson Georgia Military College 69

Ben Read Sandhills CC 72

Sean Barrett Niagara County CC 73

Lane Jenkins Hudson Valley CC 74

Nathan Hellar Jefferson CC 74

Troy Loughry Butler CC 74

Chase Richardson Westmoreland CC 75

Leo Camillon Niagara County CC 75

Traden Gray Jamestown CC 75

Logan Hay Sandhills CC 75

Brad Hammock Georgia Military College 76

Kevin O’Rouke Nassau CC 76

Julian Galletta Onondaga CC 76

Watcharakan Chankam Sandhills CC 77

Walter Kelley Georgia Military College 77

Brady Fye Jamestown CC 77

Charlie Gneiser DuPage CC 78

Zac Golibersuch Niagara County CC 78

Noah Maness Sandhills CC 78

Sam Sager Dupage CC 78

Patrick Murray Union CC 79

Cory Voltz Butler County CC 79

Stephen Bishop Georgia Military College 79

Brody Wynn Nassau CC 79

Leo Stepan Minnesota State 80

Evan Crouse Herkimer CC 80

Brent Schmiesing Madison College 80

Anthony Gullo Jamestown CC 80

Braeden McDaniel Georgia Military College 80