Host Cardinals claim fifth at LHC boys golf tournament

Playing on its home course, Newton’s boys golf team finished five shots out of second place at the Little Hawkeye Conference tournament on Monday.

Ethan Walker was the runner-up medalist and Lincoln Ergenbright also earned all-conference honors as the Cardinals finished tied with Grinnell for fourth with a 343 at the par 71 Westwood Golf Course.

Newton ended up fifth in the team standings because Grinnell had a better fifth score.

“I thought we played well today,” Newton boys golf coach Pat Riley said. “We were five shots out of second place as a team and only stroke below the third-place team.”

Class 4A Indianola put its top three golfers in the top six and won the team championship with a 315. Oskaloosa was the runner-up with a 338 and 4A Norwalk finished third with a 342.

Dallas Center-Grimes (344) and Pella (344) were one shot back of Newton and Grinnell and Pella Christian (372) finalized the eight-team field.

Walker shot a 4-over-par 75 to finish second overall. Pella’s Will Simpson was the meet medalist with a 2-under-par 69.

Walker was 1-under-par and led Simpson by one stroke after nine holes, but Simpson rallied with a 2-under-par back nine.

Ergenbright shot an 81 to finish tied for seventh. The top 12 finishers earned all-conference honors.

Kinnick Pritchard and Brody Cazett had the other counting scores with a 91 and 96, respectively. Derek Lanser (97) and Braydon Chance (105) had non-counting scores.

“We are right there,” Riley said. “We just need to clean up a few bad holes.”