HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The McLennan Community College men’s golf team capped a stellar week at Hampton Cove River Course by holding off New Mexico Junior College in a playoff for the NJCAA National Championship on Friday evening.

MCC and NMJC both finished the 72 holes of regulation at the national championship tournament at 33-over-par 1,185, 10 strokes in front of Midland College in third place.

That set up a playoff on the 18th hole in which the Highlanders prevailed with three pars in the final group. MCC shot 1-over in the playoff to edge NMJC by one stroke.

In the playoff format, two MCC golfers teed off with three from NMJC on No. 18, followed by a group of three MCC golfers and two from NMJC in the final group.

The Highlanders’ threesome of Jeremy Lambright, Curt McCormac and Juan Saucedo took the tee box tied with NMJC at 1-over.

Saucedo got up-and-down for a par, while Lambright and McCormac each hit the green at the par-4 in regulation and two-putted for pars. Meanwhile, NMJC took a bogey in the final group, giving MCC the title.

The Highlanders claimed their second NJCAA national title and first since the mid-1980s.

“We’ve been ranked two and three most of the season without an all-American on the team,” MCC coach Vince Clark said, “These guys are playing like a team and you can see it in our scores.”

McCormac led the Highlanders with a 54-hole score of 6-over 294 to finish eighth. McCormac was nine strokes behind individual champion Tommy Sikes of Midland College at 3-under.

Lambright shot 10-over to tie for 13th.

New Mexico came on strong in the final round as Zach Fullerton and Branden Dalton each shot 3-under 69 and Jens Johansson shot 2-under 70.

But NMJC had to take a fourth score of 9-over 81.

Meanwhile, Lambright led a steady effort by the Highlanders. Lambright shot 4-under on the final holes with a pair of birdies and an eagle on the par-5 15th hole.

“Jeremy Lambright, absolutely with his back against the wall, played so hard,” Clark said.

MCC’s Juan Salcedo shot 2-over 74, McCormac shot 4-over 76 and Garrett Driver shot 6-over 78 for the Highlanders’ final round team total of 9-over 297.

Jacob Aaholm, who contributed scores in each of the first three rounds, shot 79 in the final round.

MCC took an eight-stroke lead into the final round and trailed NMJC by six strokes through 12 holes in the final round.

But the Highlanders fought back to tie the score at the end of regulation, then claimed the playoff win as the sun was setting in Alabama.

MCC will host a welcome home reception for the Highlanders at 4:30 p.m. today at The Highlands gymnasium.