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Thein 7th, Bridges 15th at district boys’ golf tourney
by Gregory R. Norfleet · Sports · May 25, 2017
West Branch junior Trevor Thein and sophomore Ted Bridges finished their 2017 golf season by placing seventh and 15th, respectively, at the district golf tournament Friday in Waterloo.
Despite cold, blustery and rainy conditions, Thein shot 42-41 83 to tie with fellow River Valley Conference opponent and Wilton sophomore Jared Townsen; Bridges shot 45-42 87 in a four-way tie with Beckman senior Trae Meyer, Central Lee-Donnellson junior Evan Doyle and Tipton senior Zach Ford.
Bears Head Coach Randy Sexton said he was “very proud” to see Thein and Bridges advance to the district tournament at Gates Park Golf Course.
He said the cold temperatures, wind and rain made it feel like the lower 40s, he said, and he praised Cascade’s Race Cuckler for shooting 75 in those conditions.
“The day was not very conducive to good golf,” he said.
Yet the weather did not include lightning, so the 18-hole game went on.
He said the West Branch golfers had a couple of holes that hurt their scores, though the weather affected each golfer the same.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Sexton said of the constant, driving rain blowing in at an angle. “It wasn’t fun just walking the course. It was just miserable. I’m glad we got (the meet) in.”
Eight full teams competed at districts: 1. Clayton Ridge 336, 2. Wilton 347, 3. (tie) Central Lee-Donnellson, Durant and Jesup 349; 6. Beckman 354, 7. North Cedar 366, 8. Mid-Prairie 368.
Clayton Ridge and Wilton advanced to state, as did three individuals not on the two top teams: Cascade’s Race Cuckler 75, Beckman’s Riley LeGrand 79 and Durant’s Leo Callison 79.
The Bears coach said he looks forward to the team’s two top players continuing to improve and returning for the 2018 season, as well as all of the varsity players.
Yes, all.
“Our top eight all return, and all those have varsity experience,” Sexton said. “They will come in with a jump on things.”
That will give the Bears a “luxury” — a start to the season which the rest of the RVC opponents will not have.
He predicts his players keeping Cedars Edge owners Jerry and Tammy Sexton busy with lots of time on the local course this summer.
The coach noted that West Branch started this season as a young, rebuilding team, and finished winning the 13-team superconference title.
“That puts a target on our back for next year,” he said.
The team gathered after winning the RVC tournament to hand out superlatives and team awards.
The team voted Thein and Bridges the Best Team Leaders. Thein and Bridges will return as captains in 2018, with Brady Lukavsky and Cade Aspelmeier joining them, a decision also voted on by the team.
Coaches’ Appreciation awards went to Bryce Simpson, Matt Whaley and Evan O’Neil. The Most Improved Awards went to Kristian Nalan, Alex Miller and Mitchell Knoop. The Low-Stroke Average award went to Bridges.
The Bears started the season practicing and hosting home meets at Cedar Valley Golf Course outside of Tipton, but when Jerry and Tammy Sexton reopened Cedars Edge, the high school golf teams returned to West Branch.
“The people at Cedar Valley Golf Course were a godsend,” Sexton said. “They took us in, let us practice there. They took extremely good care of us. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”
At the same time, the team is glad to return to the West Branch course, calling it a “seamless transition.”
“That is a huge relief for all of us,” the coach said. “Jerry and Tammy now have it, and, next year, we’ll have a golf course to play on from day one. The boys are looking forward to it, and that’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”
He said he looks forward to what Jerry and Tammy Sexton have in store for the course.
“It’s a nice resource,” the coach said of Cedar Valley. “But we’re certainly glad to be back home.”
Randy Sexton said the team’s success this season was made possible with the support of all of the golf coaches and the community.
“We appreciate the support of the community,” the coach said.
Coach John Walsh worked with the golfers when varsity left town for meets, and Coach Jason Miller picked up numerous other jobs to help the team.
“We would not be where we are without them,” Randy Sexton said.
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