Conference honors
Schmidt is top freshman; second in HOA tourney
Martin County West graduate Hunter Schmidt is having a successful freshman season with the men’s golf team at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. He finished second in last week’s conference tournament, received an award from the conference, and will play in the national tournament next month.
Schmidt was second in a field of 63 golfers in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship last week at the Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate in Overland Park, Kan., losing out in a playoff.
Schmidt and Baker University sophomore Gavin Dimes each finished the regulation 54 holes at +7 223.
Both golfers shot three-over in the opening round before flip-flopping scores in the final 36 holes. Dines shot even par in the second round, while Schmidt followed suit in the final round to trigger the playoff.
Dines made a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to capture medalist honors. Dines was named the conference’s Player of the Year, while Schmidt received Freshman of the Year honors.
“It’s a bit different from high school,” Schmidt said in a post on the conference’s Instagram. “Everyone is a bit better here and you’re more of a team here. You’re with guys that you love and you’re all playing for each other.”
Schmidt recorded nine birdies during the tournament, three in the first round, two in the second and four in the final round.
Lionsgate hosted the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic on the Champions Tour for almost 20 years.
Mid America Nazarene won its second conference title in only its third year as a program.
Another Martin County West graduate, Tristan Raabe, is an assistant coach with the Pioneers. He’s known Schmidt for several years and got him started in golf in junior high.
Schmidt qualified for the state tournament four times with Martin County West. Here’s how he fared in those appearances:
2021: tie 35th
2022: 4th
2023: tie 3rd
2024: tie 4th
The Pioneers, rated eighth in the country in the NAIA rankings. qualified for the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships May 20-23 at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. That course has hosted the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic in July the week prior to The Open Championship since 2000.
Mid America Nazarene tied for eighth in last year’s national tournament, played in Dalton, Georgia.