July 4, 2024

Dyer tied for 28th after three rounds of the NJCAA Men’s National Championships

Image provided courtesy of Garden City Community College

By GARDEN CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Hobbs, NM-As rewarding as Tuesday’s opening round was for Jack Dyer, Thursday was equally as cruel.  

The freshman, who entered the day six shots off the lead at even par, shot a 3-over, 74, dropping him into a tie for 28th place at the 2024 NJCAA Men’s Golf National Championships at Rockwind Community Links.  

“That’s golf for you,” Head Coach, Jaden Chavez said. “One day, you get all the breaks. The next, everything goes against you.” 

Dyer though looked impressive early on. He tapped in for birdie on two and four and was 2-under through six. 

Then disaster struck. 

On the par-4 seventh, Dyer was in prime position for birdie. But he missed a pair of chip-shot putts. He ended up doubling the hole. 

“That double was so unnecessary,” Chavez added. “But that’s how it goes.”

He rebounded to par the final two holes on the front nine, but with severe weather looming, course officials changed things up and allowed pairings to tee off from both one and 10. With Dyer’s group being the first to go at 7 a.m., there should have been no delays. But with the new plan in place, pace of play stalled significantly on the back nine. 

“It absolutely kills your rhythm as a golfer, Chavez said. “You get into a flow, and you just want to keep going.”

After par putts on 10 and 11, Dyer found trouble again on 12, another par four that he two-putted. He did the same on a manageable par three on 15, then watched as his approach shot on 17 hit the flag; then rolled back off the green. The freshman turned to his coach, visibly frustrated. He ended up tapping in for bogey.