Fore! Golfers hit the course

COLUMBUS JUNCTION - Just playing. That was the answer from coaches and golfers about the best thing of rounds played by Columbus, Mid-Prairie and Washington golf teams, both boys and girls, Thursday at Cedar Crest Golf Course.

Since the COVID-19 situation sank the spring sports schedule last year, the meet was a welcome reminder that sports were back winning and the coronavirus was losing.

Mid-Prairie's teams had already played a match Monday so it was the Golden Hawks second outing but the first for Dominick McCain, who shot the low score of the meet, a 38 on the par-35 course. Mid-Prairie finished second in the team standings to Washington, who was led by freshman Roman Roth and his 39 score.

McCain missed Mid-Prairie's Monday meet with Iowa City Regina because his family was infected on vacation. He was jittery to start the day but stepped up to the tee and striped his first shot 280 yards. Maybe quarantine protocol would be a good way to prepare for every meet. McCain hit six pars and bogeyed three holes.

'That might not be a bad idea,” said McCain, who will play for Mount Mercy next year. 'I couldn't do anything but just hit shot after shot in the golf room. It showed in my game.”

McCain's successful day was bittersweet. 'Noah Slabaugh was our No. 1 and his senior year was last year so I am very disappointed I did not get to play that year with him.”

The meet medalist on the girls side was disappointed in her putting. Kiki Brunner posted a 39 to help Washington win.

Brunner had both sides of an answer to the question of whether she was happy with her round.

'Yes and no. I hit some good shots but these greens are really firm,” she said. 'So when you flush it, the ball doesn't stay on the green.”

Brunner's best shot had the worst outcome. 'Approach on seven, I hit it in the sweet spot and it was heading right toward the pin so I was feeling really good about it until I saw it bounce and bounce then bounced over.”

Bruner had five pars and four bogeys for a very consistent round.

Asked about her longest successful putt and informed 2 feet was not a good answer, she required a long pause before estimating, 'it was 5 feet, maybe. The greens were just too bumpy.”

The second best girls score was Makenna Conrad of Washington carding a 43.

'She's one of my three sophomores that are really looking good,” Demons coach Len Kull said.

Demon veterans Josie Tanner and Anna Nacos each posted a 45.

'Every shot will go left and I can't get them to go right or straight,” Nacos said.

Tanner was happy with the weather, thinking it would be colder but she'll happily deal with the cold if there is no wind. That was Thursday's conditions.

Columbus girls coach Nicole Hegewald was happy with how the meet went. The Wildcats are young with only one returning player, Jobie Lekwa.

'It looks like we did not start too well but they got better,” she said. 'There was improvement in their scores as the round went on and that's what I was looking for.”

McCain was in quarantine the last couple days and unable get to a course. He did hit plenty of shots in preparation, golfing in a room of his house on a simulator.

BOYS SCORES

Columbus (240) - Tucker Bright 44, Robert Coil 48, Grant Watson 83, Cole Storm 75, Trenton Hoback 73

Mid-Prairie (197) - Dominick McCain 38, Warren Scarf 50, Aiden Bush 54, Collin Miller 63, Ben Mattes 57, Drew Schlaubaugh55

Washington (182) - Roman Roth 39, John Prohaska 53, Teague Mayer 43, Isaac Vetter 50, Luke Beenblossom 50

GIRLS SCORES

Columbus - (299) Jobie Lekwa 56, Vanessa Ayala 70, Atlie Hand 86, Faith Barnhart-Rendon 87

Mid-Prairie (242) - Madalyn Bender 61, Madi 63, Gabi 59, Elliot 67, Madison 77, Alexa 59

Washington (172) - Kiki Bruner 39, Josie Tanner 45, Anna Nacos 45, Makenna Conrad 43, Alicia 52, Kaylin Long 49