Roth 1st, Demons 2nd

KALONA — Although it was a windy and cool day that made golf challenging, a good West Branch team ran away with the title of the Golden Hawk Invitational Tuesday at the Kalona Golf Course.

Washington finished second, 45 strokes behind the Bears with a 368. Mid-Prairie was fifth at 401 in the 10-team 18-hole tournament.

West Branch had four of the top five scores with the only outlier Roman Roth of Washington. Roth was one of four to post the best score of the tournament, a round of 80.

“He was due,” Washington coach Collin Stark said. “He has been second in our first two meets.”

“I was just striking the ball good and straight,” Roth said. “I had quite a few birdie putts.”

Roth shot a 39 on his first nine and 41 coming in. His only double bogeys of the day were when he hit out of bounds once and into water once. He had eight pars and a birdie, carding a three on the par-4 eighth.

“I’ve had some good golf coaches like John Thompson and my dad (Tracy Roth) who got me into the game,” Roth said. “My goal for this year is to get to state with my team. I want to be shooting even by the end of the year.”

Washington got a pair of 94 scores from Grant Sobaski and Teague Mayer. Isaac Vetter came in with a 100.

Dominic McCain led the Golden Hawks with rounds of 43 and 41 for an 84. He finished sixth, just four strokes behind Roth. Aiden Bush had a steady day going 49 and 51 for 100. Drew Schlabaugh bettered his second round by three shooting 53 and 50 for a 103. Warren Scarff carded a 114.

“Except for Dominic, this was the first big 18-hole meet for the team,” Mid-Prairie coach Kelby Bender said. “I was proud of the effort. I thought they really competed, managed the conditions and weather to finish fifth.”

Highland had Brock Schaedler shoot 125, Payton Yeggy 118, Isaac Black 146 and Jaden Schmidt 164.

Next up is Mid-Prairie’s triangular at Blue Top in Riverside with Highland and Lone Tree Monday. Tuesday the Hawks play in the Wildcat Invitational at Whakonsa Golf Club in Durant.

Washington plays today at Mt. Pleasant against Fort Madison and the Panthers.

TEAM SCORES

1. West Branch 323, 2. Washington 368, 3. Mount Vernon 379, 4. Wilton 394, 5. Mid-Prairie 401, 6. Durant 412, 7. West Liberty 435, 8. Iowa City Regina 438, 9. North Cedar 451, 10. Highland 553