Only Class A teams pass Bison at Kearney

KEARNEY -- The McCook Bison boys golf team showed that they belonged with the big boys, yet again, on Thursday at Meadowlark Golf Course.

McCook finished at fourth place at the Kearney Invitational with a team score of 309

Class A teams filled the three spots ahead of the Bison.

Norfolk took the top billing in the 13-team invite with a 294, while Lincoln Southwest was runner-up with a 297 and North Platte edged McCook by a stroke for third place with a 308.

North Platte also touted the invite's medallist in Mitch Smith, who shot a 70 to finish first. Tyler Lawson was McCook's only medallist. Lawson finished at tenth with a 75 (37-38).

McCook number four Brett Chmiel turned in a consistent 77 (38-39). McCook's Brandon Crick, number two, finished with a 78 (40-38) and Bobby Gaulke, number three, shot a 79 (40-39).

Rounding out McCook's score was number five Kelly Maiden with an 86 (43-43) and number six Mitch Hazlitt with a 98 (47-51).

Meadowlarks greens were cut shorter for this year's tournament that normal, resulting quicker greens and trickier putts.

"We didn't putt as well as usual," McCook head coach Ron Coleman said. "We left a lot of putts out there, but anytime you break 310 in Class B you're playing pretty good golf."

On Tuesday McCook will travel to Lakeside Country Club to try and repeat as champions of the Lexington Invitational. The tournament will consist of a heavier saturation of Class B teams.

"We finished well ahead of our class B opponents (at Kearney)" Coleman said. "Now we'll learn more about Class B at Lexington and try to get first like last year.

"We're not hitting on all cylinders yet, but we are shooting well and placing ahead of the Class B competition, and that's what we want."

Team Scoring

Norfolk 294, Lincoln Southwest 297, North Platte 308, McCook 309, Kearney Gold 310, Columbus 324, Lexington 326, Hastings 327, Cozad 342, Holdrege 362, Grand Island 364, Minden 375, Kearney Blue 377.

Individual Medalists

1. Mitch Smith, North Platte, 70; 2. Lance Morrow, Norfolk, 71; 3. Jason Emmons, LSW, 72; 4. Chris Bruening, Norfolk, 72; 5. Nate Jaeger, Lexington, 73; 6. Mike Coatman, LSW, 73; 7. Scott Cudly, Columbus, 74; 8. Matt Cover, Norfolk, 75; 9. Ben Porter, Kearney, 75; 10. Tyler Lawson, McCook, 75.

McCook

Tyler Lawson 75; Brett Chmiel 77; Brandon Crick 78; Bobby Gaulke 79; Kelly Maiden 86; Mitch Hazlitt 98.