Bison golfers take Class B state crown

LINCOLN -- The McCook High School boys golf team capped off a dream year for Bison athletics by winning its second Class B state championship in three years and seventh overall.

McCook followed up a first-round 302 score with a blistering second-round 286 to win the state title by 15 strokes.

The Bison finished at 588 to Gering's 603.

Beatrice finished third at 605, followed by Crete 617, Wayne 631, Nebraska City 633, Omaha Gross Catholic 634, Auburn 340, O'Neill 645, Aurora 647, Gothenburg 649 and Bishop Wahoo Neumann 678.

McCook junior Tyler Lawson was the individual champion in Class B, shooting a 66 Thursday to finish with a class-record 138.

Teammate Brandon Crick added a 143 for the Bison to place second. He fired a 73 on the first 18 holes and followed up with a 70.

Junior Bob Gaulke also medaled with a 150 score. He shot 78 on the first day and heated up for a 72 Thursday.

Nick Nothnagel shot a 157 (79-78) and Matt Serbousek 158 (80-78).

"It's sinking in now," said McCook boys golf coach Ron Coleman. "They played well.

"They took advantage of some great weather. I'm very proud of them. It was fun day to watch them shoot that well."

Under Coleman, the Bison have won six state titles since 1990, including a three-peat in 1994-95-96, and recorded two second-place finishes.

McCook 1969 when Nick's father John was a member of the team.

Nick was also a member of the state title team two years ago.

The Bison boys golf team joined the football team and wrestlers Stuart Frazier and Nathan Reicks as state champions.

"We started off the year with winning the football trophy and finished it off," Coleman said.

Lincoln East won its fourth straight Class A title and 10th overall.

The Class C1 title went to Grand Island Central Catholic and Ewing was the winner in Class C2.

Lincoln East didn't claim its championship without a struggle Thursday, as the Spartans beat Norfolk in a playoff after both teams finished with two-day totals of 577.

Grand Island Central Catholic was the easy winner in C1, finishing with a two-day total of 596 to Kearney Catholic's 639.

The Crusaders were led by Michael Hoch, who finished at 145 to take individual honors.

Dusty Sorahan finished at 147 and Ben Hanssen had 150 as the Crusaders claimed the top three individual spots.

Grant's Russell Swan earned a medal with a 158 score (80-78).

Just missing a medal was Southern Valley's Justin Bash with a 162 (85-77).

Southern Valley's Mike Powell fired a two-day score of 196 (99-97).

It was a team effort as Ewing beat Pope John 662-670 for the C2 championship.

Cambridge finished third with a 674 (348-326) and Dundy County was fifth at 686 (346-340).

Pope John's Colson Simmons had a two-day total of 154 to take individual honors. Nate Funk was the Ewing leader at 161, good for a tie for sixth place.

Cambridge's Waid Vontz finished second at 156 (82-74) and Dundy County's Brett Melchert was fourth at 158 (84-74).

Other area medalists were Cambridge's Matt Sexton, 10th, 163 (85-78); Dundy County's Blaine Rosenfelt (84-84) and Arapahoe's Brent Fanning (85-83), tied for 18th, 168.

Other Cambridge scores: Jay Johnson 174 (87-87), Michael Houghtelling 181 (94-87) and Derik Light 191 (99-92).

Other Dundy County scores: Justin West 180 (92-88), Kyle Watkins 187 (93-94), Zach Loker 86-withdrew.

Wauneta-Palisade's Matt Klima shot an 86 in the first round, but was disqualified in the second round.