Decorah edges Demons at home invitational

One stroke was all that separated the Washington boys? golf team from claiming the meet title at their home invitational on Saturday.

Posting one of their lowest scores in two years at the event, Washington posted a team score of 309 at the 18-hole invitational held at Washington Golf and Country Club, but was edged by Decorah, who notched a 308 on the day.

?We learned valuable lessons about how every stroke counts,? Washington boys? head coach Mark Berhow said. ?Decorah is a very good team in Class 3A, so it showed us how important every stroke is. I think it was a good example of us persevering through 18 holes and we played very well.?

Mt. Pleasant took third at the meet, while Fort Madison and Columbus rounded out the field.

The 309 is the best score the Demons have posted in nearly four years, and Berhow believes the Demons aren?t done improving.

?We talked after the meet, and I told them that I hope they realized there were some strokes left out on the course,? Berhow said. ?We missed some putts, and we are capable of shooting lower. That?s exciting because the teams we are competing with to get to state are shooting in the 310s or less.?

Washington senior Derek Anding earned runner-up honors in the individual tournament, posting a personal-best even-par 70 at the meet, notching 35s on both the front and back nine.

Anding?s 70 was only outdone by Decorah?s Sam Sacquitne, who shot a 69 after chipping in for a  birdie on the final hole of the day.

Sophomore Jacob Van Osdol continued his strong season with a 78 on the day, going 38 on the first nine, before posting a 40 on the second nine.

Tanner Coleman notched an 80 at the meet (38, 42), while Dalton Myers carded an 81 (42, 39) to round out the counting scores.

Noah Enfield recorded an 83 (41, 42) on his round, while Mason Rich posted an 86 (43, 43) to account for the other varsity scores.

?Even the 43s for Mason were uncharacteristically high for him,? Berhow said. ?That?s encouraging because we aren?t looking at 47s or 48s like we were through the first couple of meets. I hope we?ve turned that corner and have good scores.?

The Demons will head to Oskaloosa on Tuesday for an invitational at 2 p.m.