McCook Bison golfers 3rd at Hastings Invitational

HASTINGS -- The McCook Bison boys golf team posted another impressive round during a nice and nearly windless day at the Hastings Invitational at Lochland County Club (par-72) on Thursday.

"We've had great days to play and we've taken advantage of it," said McCook boys golf coach Ron Coleman.

Omaha Creighton Prep shot a 292 to capture the team title. Norfolk was a close second with a 295 and McCook placed third with a 306.

The Bison's district opponents Gering and Scottsbluff tied for fifth place with a 307.

Creighton Prep's John Sutko was the individual medalist with a two-under 70.

After winning Tuesday's Lexington Invitational, McCook's Tyler Lawson turned in an even-par 72 to take third place in the individual standings.

"Tyler has a great short game," Coleman said. "If he misses a green he gets up and down. After all of the meets Tyler is averaging par golf, which is as good as I've had on my team. But, the weather has also been really nice."

Also scoring for the Bison were Bobby Gaulke with a 74 (36-38), Brandon Crick with a 78 (39-39), Brett Chmiel with an 80 (41-39) and Kelly Maiden with an 87 (45-42).

Through five meets McCook averages a team score of 306.

Coleman said that because of Gaulke's nice week, including a third-place finish on Tuesday, he will move up to the no. 2 position for the McCook Invitational on Tuesday.

"Bob has played some good golf this week and will play two-man. It will be very competitive next week and competition makes a better team," he said.

The Bison have seen great success in both their own invitational and the Gothenburg Invitational Thursday.

Since 1993 the Bison have placed first or second every year. Since the Gothenburg Invite began in 2000, McCook has won it three times and placed second once.

"I'm looking for us to continue our success that we've had," Coleman said "This team has done well with super spring weather. I have a lot of confidence in this team so far, it's not deep, but you only have to count four.

"I'm satisfied with what we've done so far, but we have to keep improving, our whole goal is to keep improving."

Team Scores

1. Omaha Creighton Prep 292; 2. Norfolk 295; 3. McCook 304; 4. Kearney 306; 5.(tie) Gering 307; 5.(tie) Scottsbluff 307; 7. Columbus 312; 8. North Platte 317; 9. Hastings 327; 10. Lexington 331; 11. Grand Island 342; 12. Hastings Orange 357.

Individual Medalists

1. John Sutko, Creighton Prep, 70; 2. Chris Bruening, Norfolk, 71; 3. Tyler Lawson, McCook, 72; 4. Nate Jaeger, Lexington, 72; 5. Ben Porter, Kearney, 72; 6. Brandon Meininger, Scottsbluff, 72; 7. Tom Gross, Creighton Prep, 73; 8. Taylor Lemke, Columbus, 73; 9. Bobby Knowles, Creighton Prep, 73; 10. Joe Sloan, Gering, 74.

McCook

Tyler Lawson 72 (36-36); Bobby Gaulke 74 (36-38); Brandon Crick 78 (39-39); Brett Chmiel 80 (41-39); Kelly Maiden 87 (45-42).

Cambridge first at

Wauneta-Palisade

WANETA -- The Cambridge boys golf team captured the Wauneta-Palisade Invitational Thursday.

The Trojans posted a 327 team score, beating runnerup Wauneta-Palisade by 25 strokes.

St. Patrick's finished third with a 371 score, followed by South Platte 372, Dundy County 378, Chase County-Imperial junior varsity 379, Sutherland 381, Maywood 400, Medicine Valley 422 and Lakeside Central 434.

Culbertson did not score any team points.

Cambridge's Matt Sexton won the individual title with a 75, edging out Sutherland's Curtis Osborn by one stroke.

Wauneta-Palisade's Matt Klima placed third with a 77, followed by Cambridge's Waid Vontz, who shot an 81 in regulation and beat Sutherland's Tim Aden in a playoff.

Four players shot 84s -- South Platte's Mike Frates, St. Pat's Sean O'Neill, Maywood's Nathan Lentz and Culbertson's Garrett Rippen.

Cambridge's Tyler ten Bensel posted an 85 and claimed the 10th-place medal in a playoff.