VALDES CLAIMS NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

PANORA, Iowa – The Northeast Community College men's golf team competed in the North Central District Tournament Monday and Tuesday at Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora, Iowa. Sophomore Santiago Valdes (Mexico City, Mexico) won the event to qualify for the 2023 NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship while the Hawks finished seventh as a team.

Northeast competed against 10 other squads over 54 holes through windy conditions during the two days. The Hawks lineup consisted of Valdes, Emmet Hansen (Brandon, S.D.), Kody Sander (Lincoln, Neb.), Rockney Peck (Wisner, Neb.) and Tanner Walling (Wayne, Neb.). Northeast subbed Riley Kuehn (Hartington, Neb.) in for Walling in Round 2 before going back to Walling in Round 3.

Valdes was near the top of the leaderboard throughout much of the championship and found himself in a tie for the lead with Southeast Community College's Luke Strako after 54 holes. With the tie for first Valdes already clinched a trip to nationals, but both competitors headed back to the first hole of the course to compete in a playoff to see who would win the tournament. Valdes and Strako each settled for par on the par-4 first before they both birdied the par-5 second. Strako bogeyed the par-3 third while Valdes lined up a four-foot putt that would give him the title of North Central District Champion if he could bury it. Valdes sunk the putt, gave a slight fist pump and was congratulated by his coach, teammates and ICCAC Commissioner Thom McDonald.

Valdes' victory marks the second year in a row that a Hawks player has won the North Central District Championship, as Ty Heimes captured the title last year. Heimes has participated in the national tournament twice as a player with Northeast and will now do so as a coach at the helm of the Hawks.

Valdes was named Honorable Mention All-American after his freshman season by finishing in a tie for 25th at the 2022 NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship in Joplin, Missouri. The lefty has already signed to continue his education and golf career at NCAA Division I Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana at the conclusion of the campaign.

Valdes and Heimes will have three weeks to practice before heading to the 2023 NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship on May 23-26 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Indiana.

STAT SHEET:

Team: Seventh Place | Round 1: 325 | Round 2: 329 | Round 3: 320

Santiago Valdes (Mexico City, Mexico): T1 | Round 1: 77 | Round 2: 78 | Round 3: 76

Kody Sander (Lincoln, Neb.): T11 | Round 1: 82 | Round 2: 83 | Round 3: 76

Rockney Peck (Wisner, Neb.): T21 | Round 1: 82 | Round 2: 84 | Round 3: 80

Emmet Hansen (Brandon, S.D.): T36 | Round 1: 84 | Round 2: 84 | Round 3: 88

Riley Kuehn (Hartington, Neb.): Individual | Round 2: 86

Tanner Walling (Wayne, Neb. Individual | Round 1: 90 | Round 2: 89

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head men's golf coach Ty Heimes on Santiago Valdes winning the event:

"Santi was just solid all tournament," Heimes said. "The conditions were tough for all 54 holes, and he just put his head down and powered through it. Getting back to nationals was his goal all year. He's been working so hard and he's playing his best at the right time. I'm so happy for him and he deserves this win!"

Heimes on the other performances from his group and what his sophomore players have meant to him:

"I'm proud of this team," Heimes said. "We didn't play our best the first day, but we came back and battled today. They are a great group of guys. They all have bright futures ahead of them. They have had a great two years here at Northeast and they all will be missed."

UP NEXT:

Santiago Valdes will compete in the 2023 NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship on May 23-26 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Indiana.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS:

For all the latest information on Northeast Hawks Athletics, please visit northeasthawks.com. For updates and other exciting content, follow:

@northeastcchawks on Facebook

@northeasthawks on Instagram

@northeasthawks on TikTok

@NortheastHawks on Twitter

@NortheastCCGolf on Twitter