Cardinal boys place fourth at LHC golf meet

GRIMES — Newton High’s Cardinals and Indianola’s Indians were the two Class 4A golf teams playing in Wednesday’s Little Hawkeye Conference golf tournament. The Cardinals were the defending LHC golf meet champions.

“I had high expectations today. I knew Indianola would be tough but they haven’t played much this spring because their season is in the fall,” Newton head coach Pat Riley said. “I told our kids that I believed we were the best team. We just struggled early and couldn’t overcome it. We have 2 more meets left and our spring season is over.”

Indianola put together a four-man total of 317 to win the 2017 Little Hawkeye Conference championship by 22 strokes. Indianola won the 4A district meet in which Newton played last fall, and the Indians took sixth at the 4A state tournament.

Norwalk was second with a 339 for the 18-hole event at Beaver Creek Golf Course in Grimes. Norwalk is ranked No. 10 in Class 3A.

Oskaloosa edged Newton out for third by one stroke with a 342. Newton finished fourth with a 343 followed by Grinnell at 353, Pella at 364, Pella Christian at 373 and host Dallas Center-Grimes at 381.

Newton seniors Austin Reynolds and Trey Vanderlaan earned All-Little Hawkeye Conference honors. Reynolds paced the Cardinals with his 79 and Vanderlaan shot an 84.

The LHC individual champion was 3A No. 3 Spencer Tucker of Oskaloosa with a 74. Also shooting 74s were runner-up Lucas Schaef of DCG, who is second-ranked in 3A, and third-place finisher Jake Marvelli of Indianola. Indianola’s Ben Krapfl and DCG’s Brady Ellis each carded a 76 to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

Newton’s No. 3 golfer of the day was senior Paul Maharry, who shot an 88. Junior Shaiden Simmons carded a 92. Freshman Damon Reynolds had a 100 and senior Sam Supino finished with a 102.

“All season we have just been a few strokes away from something really special. We just haven’t gotten it done this year like we did last year. That’s how high school sports work. What matters is how we pick ourselves up and keep going,” Riley said.

The Cardinals head into Saturday’s Colfax-Mingo Invitational as the defending tournament champions. Newton joins host Colfax-Mingo, Prairie City-Monroe, Colo-NESCO, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Pella Christian, Pleasantville and Saydel for a 9 a.m. tee time Saturday at Colfax Golf Course.

With the lack of teams, Newton canceled its Cardinal Invitational on May 11. The Cardinals wrap up the spring season playing at the May 15 Pella Chrisitian Invitational at Bos Landen Golf Course in Pella.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
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