Bott cards hole-in-one; Raider boys shoot lowest 9-hole season score

A hole-in-one and their best 9-hole score of the season was all part of the fun had by the Williamsburg boys' golf team last week.

Freshman Cooper Bott fulfilled the dream of every golfer — shooting a hole-in-one — Thursday, April 27, in a meet against Center Point-Urbana and Vinton-Shellsburg at Wildcat Golf Course. Bott aced the par 3, 172-yard 16th hole using a five-iron.

Williamsburg coach Brad Schaefer said Bott was waving his arms to let him know what had just happened, but Schaefer thought Bott was only trying to get his attention in regard to a possible rules clarification. Nope, just Bott expressing his excitement as he walked on to the green and pulled the ball from the cup, becoming only the third player in Raider golf history to hit a hole-in-one during a meet.

Bott finished his round with a one-over-par 37 as part of a 153 team total, placing Williamsburg second between the Stormin' Pointers (150) and Vikings (160).

Raiders coach Brad Schaefer said he was happy for Bott, but more importantly proud of him for the way he carried himself after the ace.

"He kept his composure and fought hard to finish the way he did," Schaefer said. While Bott's ace was the talk of the meet, senior teammate Zach Glandorf quietly went about shooting a team low, one-over-par 36. That was good for runner-up medalist behind CP-U's Christian Burkhart with a three-under 32. Senior Trey O'Neil added a 39 and juniors Bryce Yearian and Crew Klinger carded a 41 and 42, respectively.

The day after Bott's ace, Friday, April 28, at Stone Creek Golf Club, Williamsburg shot a 147, its lowest 9-hole score of the season and fifth-best all-time in program history, to beat Marion (150) and Benton Community (187). Establishing a career individual low, Glandorf led the Raiders with a one-under-par 35, good for meet medalist. Klinger and Yearian each shot even-par 36 to share runner-up medalist honors, and Bott and senior Trey O'Neil carded 40's.

The Raiders totaled 329 strokes over 18 holes to place seventh out of 16 schools Tuesday, April 25, in the Oskaloosa Invitational at Edmundson Golf Course. Norwalk, led by medalist Cael Sherwood's four-under-par 66, won the tournament with a 287. Washington, behind runner-up medalist Roman Roth's 71, finished second with a 306. Klinger posted the Raiders' best score of the day, a 79, followed by Bott (89), Yearian (83), Glandorf (85) and Bott (89). Heading into Monday's WaMaC West Divisional Championships at Amana Colonies Golf Course, Williamsburg's record is 29-25.