'Average day' for Bison golfers might be enough for 2nd straight state title

Following the McCook Bison golf team's second place finish at the B4 District tournament that qualified them for the Class B State tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at Lincoln's Holmes Golf Course, head coach Ron Coleman picked up a penny lying heads-up in the parking lot of West Wind Golf Course in Ogallala.

Coleman hasn't let the "lucky" penny disappear, as he said he was "keeping it for Lincoln."

However, if history has a say, then all the Bison will have to do to capture their second straight state title is shoot their season average of 305.

Since the Nebraska State Golf Tournament went to its current two-day, 36-hole format in 1996 the average winning total is slightly over 618, or about 308 a round.

With McCook averaging 305 per tournament this spring, Coleman is feeling confident about his team's chances.

"This is what it's all about, competing against the best in Class B. I know I have some kids that can go low," Coleman said.

"I feel good about it because all year we haven't had a real bad meet, and this is a two-day meet, not just a one-day meet. You have to play well two days in a row to take home the gold. I like the two-day event, the best team does win in two days."

The players Coleman will look to for low scores is the trio of Tyler Lawson,

Brandon Crick and Bobby Gaulke. The threesome of Lawson, Crick and Gaulke are the three returnees from last year's state championship team and were the only three to medal in the state tournament.

Lawson captured the individual title with a 138 (72-66) and finished five strokes ahead of his teammate Crick, who took runner-up honors with a 143 (73-70).

Gaulke finished 11th at state with a 150 (78-72).

McCook went on to a 15-stroke team victory and also recorded the lowest 18-hole and 36-hole scores in Class B history.

This season's scores have been equally impressive. In eleven 18-hole tournaments, Lawson has averaged just under a 73, nearly a par standard, and placed in the top-five individually in eight of those tournaments.

Crick has averaged a 75 through the same 11 tournaments and placed in the top-three in five tournaments (including two wins).

Bobby Gaulke has averaged a 76 throughout this spring and shot a 75 or under in seven tournaments.

While Lawson has medaled in every tournament this season, both Crick and Gaulke have caught fire toward the end of the season and placed in the last six tournaments.

Brett Chmiel has also been a steady scorer for the Bison. Chmiel has steadily improved from the mid-80s range at the beginning of the season to shooting high-70s and low 80s.

Also showing vast improvement for McCook has been Kelly Maiden.

Maiden, the Bison's fifth-man, began the season struggling with scores averaging in the high-80s. However, Maiden constantly cut strokes and shot his season-low of 77 at the district tournament.

Even with the stellar play that has been there for the Bison all season, don't look for the state tournament to be a cakewalk, as the top-seven teams from last year's state tournament qualified. Included in those seven is last year's runner-up Gering, who defeated the Bison at the B4 District tournament.

Beatrice, the third place team from the 2003 state tournament and the only other Class B team to finish ahead of McCook at a tournament this season, also qualified out of the B2 District.

Coleman said he expected the Western Nebraska B4 District to have a strong showing on Tuesday and Wednesday as he predicted that the three qualifiers of Gering, McCook and Scottsbluff to finish in the top-five at Holmes Golf Course.

"Those three teams can finish in the top-five if they can play to their potential," Coleman said. "There are some good golfers out here."

According to Coleman, it's a relief to make it to state, so he treats it like any other meet.

"To me, the state tournament is like a regular meet, it's the last meet no matter what," Coleman said. "So, why not go out there and give it your best shot."