GRINNELL — Colfax-Mingo senior Jason Rhinehart had the best 18-hole round of his high school career on Monday during the South Iowa Cedar League boys golf tournament.
And on any other year, he might have been crowned conference champion.
But playing with two other golfers at his level, Rhinehart finished third in the tournament at the par 68 Oakland Acres.
Rhinehart shot a 75 and was two shots back of the winner and one stroke behind the runner-up. Rhinehart’s best 18-hole round prior to Monday was an 82 he carded as a sophomore.
Rhinehart was the only area golfer to claim all-conference honors. The top seven finishers earn first-team honors and the next seven are placed on the second team.
Cole Stephenson of English Valleys played in Rhinehart’s foursome. He was two shots better on the front nine and it ended up being the difference as Stephenson carded a 73 as the meet medalist.
Rhinehart and Stephenson drew even at one point on the back nine but Stephenson went back in front a few holes later. HLV’s Ethan Kupka was the runner-up medalist with a 74.
Stephenson went 35-38 for his 73. Kupka shot 35-39 for his 74 and Rhinehart totaled a 37-38 for his personal-best 75.
Maxwell Mintle led Lynnville-Sully with a 95. The Hawks were seventh as a team with a 405 and Colfax-Mingo finished eighth with a 418.
Keota won the SICL team title with a 344. English Valleys was the runner-up with a 346 and the rest of the top five included Sigourney (351), Montezuma (354) and North Mahaska (366).
The rest of the 11-team field included HLV (385), Iowa Valley (419), Belle Plaine (429) and BGM (433).
L-S played its first 18-hole round of the season. Mintle’s 95 led the way and Keegan DeWitt shot a 99. The other two counting scores came from C.J. Nikkel (103) and Carsten James (106). Luke Kramer (120) and Deven Liekweg (160) had non-counting scores.
Jake Nichols had a personal-best 96 for Colfax-Mingo. Shane Aikin (119) and Cale Duffy (128) had the other two counting scores.