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Josh Johnston, who shot a 156 at state, takes a swing at the ball from the tee-box. 

Plainsmen take sixth at state golf

By Samantha Goff

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Meadowlark Hills Golf Course in Kearney hosted the Class C Boys Golf State Championship on May 23 and 24. 

Coach Troy Kemling and his team made the trip to Kearney after a runner-up finish at districts and joined 14 other teams in a chance for the number one spot in the state.

Four of the five Plainsmen golfers made the trip to state last year, and took 10th place as a team, and received no top ten individual scores.

According to Coach Kemling, the team was familiar with the course, and they also did practice there the day before the tournament started and really pinpointed the adjustments they needed to make. 

“The first day was the challenging day with winds blowing constantly 20-30 mph. It affected putts and chips. Josh played lights out carding a 76, good for second place. Tyson saved his best golf for state, breaking 80 for the first time in shooting 78. He was in fifth place after day one,” Kemling said.

At the end of the first day, the Plainsmen were in eighth place. 

“Going into the last day, we hoped to improve the team placing and each player play their own game. 

“Josh and Tyson had the added pressure in playing in the final two groups. After a nervous start, they both settled down and continued to play stellar golf,” Kemling said.

The seasoned Plainsmen ultimately showed their growth and improvement this year, and as a team they placed sixth with a total two-day score of 688, which was just 120 strokes over par, and 49 strokes more than the state champions, Lincoln Lutheran. 

Individually, Josh Johnston tied for fifth place with a score of 156, just 14 strokes over par. He showed great personal improvement, after he tied for 55th place last year, shooting a 179.

Tyson Patrick took tenth place, 19 strokes over par. His final score was 161. Patrick also showed great improvement, after shooting a 191 last year that earned him 75th place. 

“Jacob (Woodmancy) was the surprise on the secnd day. He open with a 105, mostly due to freshman jitters but on the second day he was able to relax. His score of 80, a personal best, bettered all but nine golfers at the meet. Quite a remarkable turnaround,” Kemling commented, and added, “I was disappointed for Tyler (Thelander) as he didn’t play the type of golf that he is capable of. This does not diminish his impact as a person and player for the team over the past four years. His presence will be missed next year.”

At the end of the day, sixth place with two top ten golfers and a great effort by the team as a whole should be considered an improvement and a success. 

“The team finishing in sixth place was very satisfying. I was pleased with how each golfer portrayed themselves as they competed. They represented Perkins County well,” said Kemling.

Team scoring: 1. Lincoln Lutheran, 639; 2. Kimball, 648; 3. Hartington Cedar Catholic, 655;4. Lincoln Christian, 675; 5. Grand Island Central Catholic, 676; 6. Perkins County, 688; 7. Battle Creek, 688; 8. Ord, 699; 9.Elmwood-Murdock, 700; 10. Southern Valley, 703.

Individual scoring: 1. Jack Thompson, Hastings St. Cecilia, 149; 2. Elijah Frost, Lincoln Lutheran, 152; 3. Jodan Greenwood, Kimball, 155; 4. Hunter Deines, Centura, 155; 5. Grant Johnson, Lincoln Lutheran, 156; 6. Joshua Johnston, Perkins County, 156; 7. Matthew Scaifer, Hartington Cedar Catholic, 157; 8. Capp Bengston, Hartington Cedar Catholic,, 158; 9. Maxwell Madsen, 160; 10. Tyson Patrick, Perkins County, 161. 

Other Perkins County Golfers: Jacob Woodmancy, 185; Tyler Thelander, 190; Michael Beck, 197.

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

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