LSW finds way through wind
Defending state Class A champion Lincoln Southwest breezed to the District A-4 golf title Monday at Mahoney Golf Course.
The Silver Hawks blew past the eight-team field and posted the best team score in all four districts. Senior Austin Zimmerman took medalist honors with a 2-over-par 72.
Pius X qualified for the state tournament with a second-place finish. Lincoln Southeast also qualified for the state tournament after a third-place finish in the A-2 District at Riverside Country Club in Grand Island.
“There is pressure in the district because no matter what you’ve done all season, you have to play well enough to qualify, and that’s never a given thing,” said Southwest coach Jim Danson, whose team posted a 298. Southwest finished second in the state meet in 2005 and 2006.
Pius X scored at 313, and Kearney was third at 339, taking the top four scores of five players on each team.
The Silver Hawks were bunched at the top of the leaderboard. Jake Hedgecock finished second with 74, Justin Stonacek and Bryce Brown tied for third at 76, and Brandon Boosalis was tied for seventh at 77. Jordan Wise of Lincoln Northeast finished tied for third with a 76 and was an individual qualifier for the state meet, which will start May 19 at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln.
Andy Primavera and Jack Burt led Pius X with a 77 and 78, respectively.
“The wind was driving the scores up today and a lot of good shots went unrewarded,” said Zimmerman, a senior at Southwest. “We kept up despite the wind. We were keeping track of how each other was doing on the course, and it was a good day all around.”
Hedgecock, one of three newcomers to the Southwest starting five this year, added the Silver Hawks were prepared for tough conditions.
“We’ve either played in cold or in wind when it’s warm, and that was no different today,” he said. “So you learn to adjust by going up two clubs or down two clubs and keeping as steady as you can.
“Sometimes, you couldn’t adjust for the wind,” he said. “On No. 14 (170 yards, par 3) even a well-hit four-iron came up 20 yards short.”
Zimmerman said the Silver Hawks hope the wind is blowing hard next week for the state meet at wide-open Highlands. “We feel we can handle anything after this spring of playing in the elements week after week,” he said.
Southwest sophomore Boosalis said the senior leadership of Zimmerman and Justin Stonacek helps keep the team together on days with tough conditions.
“They’ve been through this and they can give us little tips, some advice, and keep everybody level-headed,” he said.
Southeast’s Taylor Price and Trevor Romjue posted top 10 finishes in the district at Grand Island. Grand Island won the district and Creighton Prep was second.
Lincoln East senior Taylor Stewart finished sixth and Lincoln North Star freshman Andrew Srb finished seventh in the A-2 District to qualify individually for the state meet.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
The Silver Hawks blew past the eight-team field and posted the best team score in all four districts. Senior Austin Zimmerman took medalist honors with a 2-over-par 72.
Pius X qualified for the state tournament with a second-place finish. Lincoln Southeast also qualified for the state tournament after a third-place finish in the A-2 District at Riverside Country Club in Grand Island.
“There is pressure in the district because no matter what you’ve done all season, you have to play well enough to qualify, and that’s never a given thing,” said Southwest coach Jim Danson, whose team posted a 298. Southwest finished second in the state meet in 2005 and 2006.
Pius X scored at 313, and Kearney was third at 339, taking the top four scores of five players on each team.
The Silver Hawks were bunched at the top of the leaderboard. Jake Hedgecock finished second with 74, Justin Stonacek and Bryce Brown tied for third at 76, and Brandon Boosalis was tied for seventh at 77. Jordan Wise of Lincoln Northeast finished tied for third with a 76 and was an individual qualifier for the state meet, which will start May 19 at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln.
Andy Primavera and Jack Burt led Pius X with a 77 and 78, respectively.
“The wind was driving the scores up today and a lot of good shots went unrewarded,” said Zimmerman, a senior at Southwest. “We kept up despite the wind. We were keeping track of how each other was doing on the course, and it was a good day all around.”
Hedgecock, one of three newcomers to the Southwest starting five this year, added the Silver Hawks were prepared for tough conditions.
“We’ve either played in cold or in wind when it’s warm, and that was no different today,” he said. “So you learn to adjust by going up two clubs or down two clubs and keeping as steady as you can.
“Sometimes, you couldn’t adjust for the wind,” he said. “On No. 14 (170 yards, par 3) even a well-hit four-iron came up 20 yards short.”
Zimmerman said the Silver Hawks hope the wind is blowing hard next week for the state meet at wide-open Highlands. “We feel we can handle anything after this spring of playing in the elements week after week,” he said.
Southwest sophomore Boosalis said the senior leadership of Zimmerman and Justin Stonacek helps keep the team together on days with tough conditions.
“They’ve been through this and they can give us little tips, some advice, and keep everybody level-headed,” he said.
Southeast’s Taylor Price and Trevor Romjue posted top 10 finishes in the district at Grand Island. Grand Island won the district and Creighton Prep was second.
Lincoln East senior Taylor Stewart finished sixth and Lincoln North Star freshman Andrew Srb finished seventh in the A-2 District to qualify individually for the state meet.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
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