Bison golfers hit middle of pack

Wednesday, August 23, 2017
McCook’s Holly Grigg watches the flight of a drive during an earlier Bison tournament. She placed in the top 10 at Tuesday’s Sidney Invitational.
Gazette File Photo

R.B. Headley

Gazette Sports Editor

SIDNEY, Neb. — The McCook Bison can begin their steady improvement following a so-so performance at Tuesday’s Sidney Invitational.

Battling what were described as “tough” putting greens, McCook still outgolfed four other teams while placing fifth among nine with a 410 total.

“They had just aerated them (the greens), so it was really hard to make any putts on them,” Scottsbluff champion Shelby Poynter said in a starherald.com tourney report.

Poynter should know greens as she won nine tournaments last season and has already committed to playing for NCAA Division I Northern Colorado next year.

Her 74 topped the tourney field where only one other golfer — Chadon’s Alpine Hickstein — shot under 80 at Hillside Golf Course.

McCook senior Holly Grigg’s consistent play did earn a top 10 Bison place for this first 18-hole tourney of 2017.

Grigg fired 44 and then carded 45 to total 89. She was only one stroke behind two other top 10 placers and just two shy from matching district rival Brook Speer of Lexington.

Bison senior Cassidy Redl also finished nine holes at 44 while classmate Holland Stagemeyer scored 45.

However, their other nine holes were more challenging. Redl (96), Stagemeyer (98) and senior Monique Witt (127) completed the Bison team total of 410.

Poynter expressed exactly what new Bison coach Joel Arterburn stressed last week: patience.

“I know a lot of the girls weren’t real happy with the way that they played team, but it was our first (tournament),” she stated on starherald.com. “We all have a lot to improve on and I think we have a lot to look forward to.”

The Bison will aim for better scores during their own McCook Invitaitonal on Friday at Heritage Hills.

Opening tee times are for set for 9 a.m.

Sidney Invite team champion Gering, Lexington, Cambridge, Holdrege and Dundy County-Stratton are among teams scheduled to compete.

Team scores at Sidney: 1. Gering 359, 2. Scottsbluff 370, 3. Ogallala 381, 4. Sidney 389, 5. McCook 410, 6. Chadron 420, 7. Gothenburg 434, 8. Lexington 435, 9. Bridgeport 451.

Top five individuals: 1. Shelby Poynter, SCO, 74; 2. Alpine Hickstein, CHAD, 78; 3. Kira Mestl, OGA, 80; 4. Kenzy Kanno, MITCH, 82; 5. Emma Alexander, SID, 86; 9. Holly Grigg, MC, 89.

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