NMMI Sports Press
After a disastrous final round during the 2023 national tournament, Jackson Hicks has had a chip on his shoulder. Maybe more of a boulder.
When the sixth-year cadet made his final putt Friday afternoon in Hobbs, one could almost visibly see the weight fall off his shoulders as he enjoyed a quiet moment on the 18th green while his competitors finished off their round.
“Nobody thought we were gonna make it. Nobody thought we could go top five,” said Hicks. “We really made a statement and I think we left quite a legacy for Bronco Golf going forward.”
Hicks shot under par each day of the tourney and saved his best golf for last, going 3-under in the final round with three birdies and zero bogeys. After falling from 14th to 15th after the second round, Hicks climbed 11 spots over the final 36 holes.
First-year head coach Kris Ward credited Jackson’s work ethic and love of the game for his All-American performance.
“He just love it, and not just the competition, he loves the work,” Ward said. “He’s a real golf rat. On the range, on the course 24/7. And I think his experience at nationals last year helped him keep the team calm throughout the week.”
Every Bronco finished in the top half of the 127 competitor field, as the lone freshman Tyler Jackson climbed nine spots on the final day to finish 51st with his first even score of the tourney.
Thavichakree “Ten” Arunmala was one shot better with an overall plus-11 to finish 49th and Andreas Skaar finished 33rd while putting together his first below-par round of the week.
Phalatphon “Putter” Viboonviriyasakul had two wins in three tries at Rockwind during the 2023-24 school year, but got off to a rocky start and finished 37th with an overall plus-6.
“We came in as the 12th seed and would’ve been tickled with a top-10 finish,” said Ward. “It was the first time all year that the team had to carry Putter and they did a great job. They picked him up all week and then Jackson, Tyler and Andreas really performed today to bring home a top 5. This team has an amazing bond and they showed it this week.”
Just like the regular season, the Broncos were chasing some familiar foes at the top of the leaderboard in conference rivals New Mexico Junior College, Odessa and Midland, who finished 1-2-3. NMJC captured their first national championship in program history. McLennan College (Waco, TX) took fourth.
Ward took the reins of the Broncos at the urging of assistant coach Travis Hicks, Jackson’s father. Neither had much coaching experience and turned to NMMI Golf Course shop clerk Jonathan Allen for additional support. Allen will take over as head coach next season.
“I think any coach worth a dang will tell you the same thing… great players make great coaches,” said Ward. “I think my stewarding of these young men was more on the mental side and thank goodness coach Hicks and I got Jonathan out here this spring because it really helped with the golf side.”
“We thanked the kids last night, for taking us on this journey and trusting us. We fell into a really good situation with the team that Boyd Kapalamoto recruited during his time as coach and we didn’t screw anything up,” Ward said with a grin.
For Hicks, a Roswell kid that won state for the Colts as a junior in 2021, his time on the links as a high school and junior college player were about more than just golf.
“It’s really about the people you meet that become like family,” he said. “I’ve had so much success and so much help from great coaches and teammates that are like brothers now. Golf can be a tough game, but it’s always fun when you’re playing with people you love.”
Hicks and Putter will continue their collegiate golf careers at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.