Central boys send two golfers to districts, girls get ready for regionals
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
The Central Warriors placed sixth at the boys Upper Iowa Conference golf meet at South Winneshiek Golf Course on May 10. North Fayette Valley won with a score of 345, while Central shot a 390.
The medalist for the meet was Nick Koch from North Fayette Valley with an 83. On the Warriors side, Parker Smith earned an eighth place medal after shooting a 91, and Evan Pensel earned an 11th place medal with a 93.
Other Warrior scores were Tommy Seeland with a 99, Brock Eglseder shot a 107, Karl Gardner came in with a 109 and Luke Asche finished with a 117.
“Good for Parker and Evan to win medals, but we did not play as well as we could. We had way too many penalty strokes. This was the first time they played the course, and that’s on me,” said coach Jamie Rodenberg.
The boys followed conference with a third place finish at sectionals, which took place at the Silver Springs Golf Course in Ossian on May 14.
Two Warriors, Smith and Seeland, will move on to districts individually, after shooting an 88 and finishing third overall. They are heading to districts because the top two individuals and ties from non-qualifying teams get to move on.
As a team, Central was just three strokes from advancing to districts, but only the top two teams advance. Starmont won the meet with a 358, Edgewood-Colesburg finished second with a 363 and the Warriors came in third with a 366.
Carson Wenthold from South Winneshiek was the medalist with an 82.
Other scores from Central were Pensel with a 90, Eglseder shot a 100, Gardner finished with a 103 and Asche ended the meet with a 109.
“Central shot 24 strokes better than at conference and played much better overall as a team. Though we played well, we were disappointed to come so close to advancing,” Rodenberg said. “Three seniors are done, and will be sorely missed. Evan Pensel hits the ball as far as anyone in the state, and ended with a chip in two on the uphill number four par three. Luke Asche was playing his best golf at the end of the season, and was hitting more greens in regulation. Karl Gardner improved immensely from a couple years ago when he shot 103 for nine holes. This meet, Gardner shot 103 for 18 holes.”
Smith and Seeland will move on to districts and represent the Warriors at Pheasant Ridge in Cedar Falls on Friday, May 21.
The Central Girls placed fifth as a team at the Upper Iowa Conference girls meet at Tri City Golf Course near Luana on May 11. Turkey Valley won the meet after shooting a 457, and Central shot a 506.
The medalist was Sydney Becker from South Winneshiek with a score of 101. Madison Sylvester from Central earned an eighth place medal, shooting a 115.
Other scores for the Warriors were Sophia Keppler with a 128, Haley Frieden shot a 130, Makayla Erickson finished with a 133 and Alexis Fettkether hit the clubhouse with a 134.
“As a team, that is about where I expected our team to end up. For five out of our six girls, it was the first time playing 18 holes. Our girls tried hard on a tough course, and that’s all we can ask for as coaches,” Rodenberg said.
Next, the girls will participate in regionals at Lone Pine Country Club in Colesburg on May 17.
