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West Branch beats Tipton by one stroke in road win
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · April 17, 2024
After a second-place finish to Tipton in the Tiger Classic a year ago, the West Branch boys’ golf team flipped places with the Tigers in a one-stroke victory April 11.
Victory had eluded the Bears in the tournament held at Tipton Country Club in recent years, with a third-place finish to Solon and Tipton in a nine-hole competition due to a rain delay two years ago followed by the runner-up effort last season. West Branch had to sweat out the win, with a 330-331 margin knocking off the hosts this year.
While the Bears had struggled to perform to their lofty standards set earlier in the season, Bears Head Coach Randy Sexton said the team is starting to lock in in a similar manner to the first squad he sent to state.
“That team was just kind of existing,” he said of the first team qualifiers. “They were actually 9-17. They went to a tournament, and at that tournament we kind of performed better than we had all year. That was just a huge springboard. After that, they just started believing in themselves.”
McGavin Smith capped off a torrid week with a second-place finish and medalist honors. In the Bears’ April 9 tournament at Kalona Golf Course, the freshman cracked the varsity lineup after battling injuries and took second by a single stroke to Cole Daufeldt of West Liberty as the team placed third. In Tipton, he finished a stroke behind the 78 carded by the Tigers’ Jacob Barton with a 40-39 79.
“We knew McGavin was going to be a very talented golfer,” the coach said of Smith. “Hopefully we’re just starting to scratch the surface with him. He’s feeling better, he’s feeling pretty confident with the ball.
Bryce Anderson also medaled, shooting a 39-43 82.
“And Bryce, to get his first medal as a freshman as well, that’s pretty awesome for him,” Sexton said of Anderson. The coach noted that Anderson has been an extremely consistent member in the varsity lineup throughout the season.
The second round of the nine-hole course was kind to most of the West Branch golfers, with three lower scores in the final nine holes and two even performances among the six competitors. Sawyer Jeffries, the third-highest finisher, lopped six strokes off his front nine with a 45-39 84. Paxton Tisinger had a similar effort, as the final scorer dropped five strokes in a 45-40 85.
Reece Druecker (46-46 92) and Bradyn Sexton (48-48 96) had steady performances.
“We kind of struggled on the front at Tipton, and then the backside we really kicked it in,” Sexton said. “We shot eight strokes better and kind of ran them down. We’re very happy with the way we shot. Hopefully it will kind of give us the boost we need going forward to move us in the right direction.”
The coach added that some strong winds affected play at times, but that the team as a whole managed to figure out how to approach the greens and manage the course as a whole while keeping the ball in play.
The Bears will have some extra time to practice before returning to competition on Monday after an April 16 tournament at Wahkonsa Golf Course in Wilton was canceled due to weather. Sexton said that the team is getting more used to the rigors of playing 18-hole tournaments, which will help account for lower scores along with practice reps.
Team scores: 1. West Branch 330 2. Tipton 331 3. Mount Vernon 348 4. Wilton 352 5. Maquoketa 357 6. Northeast 363 7. Durant 398 8. North Cedar 410.
Medalist play: 1. Jacob Barton (TIP) 78 2. McGavin Smith (WB) 79 3. Collier Rockow (DUR) 81 4. Ethan Winegar 81 (MAQ) 5. Bryce Anderson (WB) 82 6. Brody Marchik (TIP) 83.
West Branch scores: McGavin Smith 40-39 79; Bryce Anderson 39-43 82; Sawyer Jeffries 45-39 84; Paxton Tisinger 45-40 85; Reece Druecker 46-46 92; Bradyn Sexton 48-48 96.
Bears third at Kalona tourney
West Branch on April 9 traveled to Kalona for a seven-team tournament, finishing 10 strokes behind the winner.
Team scores: 1. Mount Vernon 337 2. Mid-Prairie 344 3. West Branch 347 4. West Liberty 351 5. Wilton 390 6. Durant 434 7. Louisa-Muscatine 456.
West Branch scores: McGavin Smith 77 (runner-up medalist); Bradyn Sexton 88; Paxton Tisinger 91; Reece Druecker 91; Ethan Miller 93; Cameron Gingerich 95.
West Branch 165, Wilton 189
The Bears hosted Wilton on April 15 and beat the visitors by double digits.
Team scores: 1. West Branch 165 2. Wilton 189.
West Branch scores: McGavin Smith 39 (medalist); Sawyer Jeffries 41 (runner-up medalist); Bryce Anderson 42; Paxton Tisinger 43; Reece Druecker 43; Bradyn Sexton 44.
Wilton scores: Rylan Teel 41 (runner-up medalist); Karson Trede 47; Ben Garvin 50; Oliver Grings 51; Mason Tyler 51; Owen Milder 54.
Junior varsity team scores: 1. West Branch 172 2. Wilton 221.
West Branch scores: Cameron Gingerich 38 (medalist); Reese Gingerich 42 (runner-up medalist); Gavin Oxley 44; Ethan Miller 48; Reed Brooke 49; Tate Frantz 52.
Wilton scores: Brady Tyler 51; Adam Sauer 58; Austin Etzel 58; Kole Gute 64; Kade Wells 65.
West Branch other: Nathan Hills 47; Connor Sexton 49; Sullivan Brooke 49; Cole Crosthwaite 51; Ian Nelson 51; Tate Lynch 53; Dylan Schiele 54; Cael Nelson 58; Jeremy Budreau 59; Mason Pedersen 60; Bodee Morehead 61; Jackson Marey 62; Garrett Sotzen 63.
Wilton other: Gunner Garvin 50; Oaklan Jirak 54; Jerald Stranberg 63.
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