Boys edged out in conference meet

The theme for the Washington boys? golf team this season has been that every stroke counts, and with another close meet, it was true once again on Tuesday.

The Demons traveled to Fairfield for their conference meet on Tuesday, and took fourth out of the five teams, with only seven strokes separating the Demons and conference champion Fort Madison.

Fort Madison won the meet with a 328, while Mt. Pleasant carded a 333, Fairfield a 334 and the Demons scored a 335 in a tight conference race. Keokuk notched a 343 to take fifth.

?After the first round, all the teams were within one stroke and Fairfield was five strokes back,? Boys? golf head coach Mark Berhow said. ?It was tight all the way, and it was a great opportunity to remind the guys that every stroke counts and you never know what?s going to happen at the end.?

The Demons were led by Tanner Coleman, who finished two strokes away from All-Conference honors, using a 37 on the back nine to card an 82.

?I was proud of how he came back after some struggles on the front nine,? Berhow said. ?That?s ideal when it?s a nine-hole course and you are playing it twice. You learn what clubs you need to hit, and he made use of that.?

Coleman was followed by Dalton Myers? 83, while Jacob Van Osdol carded an 84.

Ben Bohr rounded out the counting scores for the Demons on Tuesday, carding an 86.

The scratch scores on the day came from Noah Enfield, who carded an 87, while Lane Burlingame notched a 93.

The Demons were without a pair of varsity athletes on the day, with Derek Anding missing the meet due to sickness and Noah Enfield suffering an injury.

Washington will be in Burlington on Monday when postseason play opens up, as they will take part in a sectional at Flint Hills Golf Course.

The top two teams will advance to the district meet next Wednesday at the Amana Colonies.

?We start fresh (on Thursday),? Berhow said. ?We all have the capability of shooting well, and this is a course that requires us to manage our shots and know where we are going to go. Position will be important on the course.?