Newton boys golf finishes fourth at Saydel Invitational

DES MOINES — Ethan Walker finished tied for fifth, Lincoln Ergenbright tallied a top-10 finish and Derek Lanser hit his first-ever hole-in-one during the Newton boys golf team’s season-opening tournament at Woodland Hills on Friday.

The Cardinals were fourth overall in the Saydel Invitational with a 367. Gilbert won the tournament with a 324, while Dallas Center-Grimes (359) and Winterset (364) were next in the nine-team field.

“I was really happy with how we played today,” Newton boys golf coach Pat Riley said. “We have so much we can improve on so I look forward to seeing where these guys will be at the end of the season.”

Walker tied for fifth but placed seventh on the cardback after shooting an 82 on the par-72 course. Gilbert’s Brock Snyder was the meet medalist with a 78 and Pella’s Will Simpson was one of three golfers to shoot 81 but was the runner-up on the cardback.

Ergenbright was 10th overall for the Cardinals after firing an 87.

Lanser, who also plays soccer and was competing in his first-ever high school golf meet, finished 22nd with a 96. His hole-in-one came on his second hole of the day, the par-3 No. 12.

Kinnick Pritchard and Braydon Chance both carded a 102 but Pritchard finished 30th on the cardback. Brody Cazett shot a 109.

Walker’s round included eight pars and an eagle on the par-5 No. 9. Ergenbright had six pars and two birdies and Pritchard and Cazett each had a pair of birdies.

“Considering the cold and the wind, our team score was very encouraging,” Riley said. “Also, a big shoutout to Derek Lanser’s hole-in-one. What an accomplishment in his first-ever golf meet.”

The rest of the nine-team field included Pella (374), Saydel (396), West Marshall (397), Pella Christian (414) and Earlham (428).