Southwestern Spartan golfers Oliver Pearson, freshman of Melbourne, Australia, and Reinhardt Saunderson, freshman of Whangaparaoa, Auckland, New Zealand, qualified for the NJCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship, from May 21-24, in Foley, AL, at Glen Lakes Golf Club.

Pearson and Saunderson are the first men to qualify for a national championship under Head Coach Doug North.

North is excited to watch the two Spartans compete at nationals, but wishes he was taking the entire team.

“It is heartbreaking that we didn’t quite make the cut as a team, taking fourth place by five strokes," stated North; "but these guys have earned every opportunity they have been given. Our philosophy this year was ‘out-work everybody’ and we did just that.”

Saunderson went on to shoot a two-under par 70 in his first round, following that with an 80, earning him a spot and finishing in a tie for fourth place (carded back to fifth place). Pearson joined Saunderson after posting a 74-74–148 to take second overall in the stacked field.

The leaders of the Spartans will both be back for the 2018-19 campaign and look to lead a very talented Southwestern golf team. These two will join fellow national qualifier Bianca Findlay, freshman of Hopper Crossing, Australia, as returning Spartans with national championship experience under their belts.