Mid-Prairie boys golf team takes second place in home invitational Tuesday

It was a battle against the wind and wet conditions Tuesday, May 2, as the Mid-Prairie boys held their Golden Hawk Invitational.

?We knew it would be tough to score well so it was going to be who could battle through it and piece together a good round,? said coach Kelby Bender.

The Golden Hawks did just that and used their home course knowledge to their advantage to finish runner-up out of eight teams shooting a 363 behind Wilton's 347.

?I was very pleased with how the team managed the windy conditions,? Bender said. ?All six golfers put up a respectable score. They managed the course well and never gave up.

Freshman Noah Schlabaugh made two birdies on the back nine to finish with a 39 after a front nine 44 for an 83.

?It was good enough to earn him Runner-up medalist honors after the tiebreaker card back,? Bender said. ?He has been playing really consistent and so close to having a great round. Tuesday, he did just that by making a couple birdies to shoot his low nine-hole round and low 18 hole round.?

Junior Michael Callahan put together a 47 and 44 for a 91 to finish 10th individually.

?Michael has been working really hard and starting to play well,? said Bender.

Junior Ryan Slaubaugh shot 45, 47 for a 92 to finish 11th. Duncan McCain and Collin Gingerich found different ways to shoot 97.

Duncan was consistent with a 48 and 49 while Collin struggled on the front nine but bounced back with a 41 on the back.

?They have been working hard this year and have been so close at times,? Bender said.

?It was great to see them put together that type of effort to get second as a team and three individuals in the top 11 in a very competitive 18-hole invitational.?