New London’s Phillips to state golf meet

IOWA CITY — New London’s Clayton Phillips is going back to state in his senior year.

Phillips stood tall in the district tournament at Pleasant Valley Golf Course on Thursday, shooting a 74 to advance on to the state meet.

Phillips led the Tigers to a sixth-place finish overall, shooting 373 as a group. Keota shot 358 to finish in fourth place, and Hillcrest Academy shot 391, for eighth.

Phillips’ 74 earned him runner-up honors. Ethan Kupka of Hartwick-Ladora-Victor shot 74 but earned the first-place medal via tiebreaker.

Mason Shelledy was the second New London scorer. He shot an 88. Wyatt Miller finished at 102. Ethan Streeter shot 109. Dustin Nehring ended the day at 114, and Weston Miller shot 123.

Hillcrest had three scorers under 100. Jace Rempel was the top Raven, shooting 90. London Schrock finished at 91. Lue Schrock ended at 97.

Keota put every golfer under 100, but finished 19 strokes off of a Top-2 finish and a state berth. The Eagles were led by Luke Hammen, who shot 87. Sawyer Stout finished at 89.

Colten Clarahan shot 90 for the Eagles. Max Johnson scored 92. Caden Sprouse finished at 93, and Cole Kindred shot 98.

Josiah Beachy was Hillcrest’s fourth scorer, at 113. Alex Niemeyer finished at 136.

Despite not making it as a team, Winfield-Mount Union had three players playing individually. Brady Loyd and Jacob Kongable each shot 89, and Isaac Schurr finished at 92.

Phillips will play at the Class 1A state meet on Thursday, May 27, and Friday, May 28. That meet will take place at Westwood Golf Course in Newton.

TEAM STANDINGS: T-1. North Cedar 339; T-1. North Tama 339; 3. Sigourney 356; 4. Keota 358; 5. Montezuma 371; 6. New London 373; 7. English Valleys 390; 8. Hillcrest Academy 391; 9. Moravia 392.