CEDAR FALLS – The Montezuma Braves came well, . . pretty close . . . to qualifying for the Class 1A State Golf Meet during the Tuesday, May 17 sectional meet at Pheasant Ridge Golf Club.
Pretty close is good, if you’re pitching horseshoes, or lobbing hand grenades.
Even in golf, pretty close can be good, if it describes your approach shot from out on the fairway, or a set-up putt up on the green.
But in the very precise, competitive, often exasperating game of golf, pretty close ultimately means you missed.
The Braves finished fourth in the district meet on Tuesday. They had to place first or second order to move on to state as a team.
None of Montezuma’s individuals qualified for state, either.
East Buchanan won the district with an 18-hole score of 320. Don Bosco and AGWSR were next at 334, with Don Bosco getting the state nod by tie-breaker.
The Braves shot 343, one stroke better than BCLUW and just nine off – over 18 holes, by the team – of what they needed.
A total of 10 full teams posted scores in a district which, by scores, was the toughest one in the state to get through.
So ends a boys golf season that saw Montezuma post the low nine-hole team score in Class 1A, the second-lowest 18-hole score, and a top-five scoring average in the class.
Along the way, they won the SICL and sectional tournaments.
BOYS CLASS 1A DISTRICT
at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, Cedar Falls
TEAM SCORES – 1, East Buchanan 320, 2, Don Bosco and AGWSR 334. 4, Montezuma 343. 5, BCLUW 344. 6, Edgewood-Colesburg 356. 7, Clayton Ridge 357. 8, Lisbon 359. 9, Starmont 360. 10, Easton Valley 369.
Meet medalist – Ben Hesner, East Buchanan, 70.
Runner-up medalist – Daniel Stahl, AGSWR, 74.
Third-place score: 74.
Fourth-place score: 76.
Montezuma scores: 5, Eddie Burgess 80. 7, Maguire De Jong 82. 11, Cruz De Jong 88. 22, Jack Erselius 93. 24, Owen Cook 94. 29, Carsten James 99. (A total of 30 golfers competed.)