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Ullestad helps IHCC win national title, earns All-American status

WEBSTER CITY – Just a little more than a year ago, Trevor Ullestad was celebrating individual and state golf championships with his South Hamilton teammates.

It’s hard to believe that he’s already one-upped those accomplishments.

But national title trumps state title.

Playing for national junior college power Indian Hills Community College, Ullestad grabbed All-American honors and helped the Warriors claim their fourth NJCAA Division I national championship in the last five years last week at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kansas.

“Winning the (Class 2A) state title (in 2014) was pretty cool, but winning a national title is up there, too,” Ullestad said. “It was an awesome week … it was a different kind of pressure, but that made it a lot more fun.”

Indian Hills led after each of the four rounds, culminating with a Day 4 301 to fend of McLennon Community College by three shots. The Warriors shot 289, 292 and 280 in the opening three rounds.

Ullestad finished at 6-over par (72-75-72-75) to sit 16th on the large leaderboard. He says reaching All-American status wasn’t really a goal, just an added bonus.

“I really wasn’t thinking about that while I was playing and I feel like I could have played a little bit better,” he said. “I hit the ball well, but I didn’t putt very well.”

It was the culmination of a whirlwind first season in the college ranks. The 2014 South Hamilton graduate admits it took him a while to adjust to the bigger stage, but, eventually, he found his footing.

“(College golf) actually caught me a little bit by surprise and I had a tough time adjusting to it (last) fall,” Ullestad said. “It’s just a different level and the courses are harder. But by the end of the spring I started getting my confidence back and played pretty well.”

Back home in Jewell for the summer, Ullestad has entered a self-imposed golf break for the time being. He’ll get back to the grind in June and play tournaments throughout the state before he heads back to Ottumwa in the fall.

“We went at it pretty hard this spring, so I’m taking some time off right now,” he said. “But I’ll play in tournaments in June and July all around Iowa.”

With one year of junior college remaining, Ullestad hasn’t started thinking about his golfing future past this upcoming season. But soon he’ll have to start the process.

“I’ll probably start thinking about that more in the summer and next fall,” he said. “I don’t have a specific place in mind. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

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