Gering's Miller ends 1st day in Class B lead
Austin Miller had one goal for this year’s state Class B state golf tournament — to improve on last year’s second-place finish.
The senior from Gering is well on his way to reaching his goal after shooting a 2-under-par 69 Tuesday in the first round of the tournament at Pioneers Golf Course.
He holds a three-stroke lead over Jared Gustafson of Gretna, who shot 72. Gustafson finished third last year. Miller is four strokes over John Rakes of Nebraska City and Ryan Boyer of Gretna.
Nebraska City, led by Dylan Heng, who shot 74, is in first. Aurora is nine strokes back in second at 309 and Gering is third at 312.
Scottbluff freshman Erik Krzyzanowski, who is tied with Heng at 74, scored a hole-in-one on the 143-yard No. 17.
Miller posted birdie on five holes and bogey on three.
“I made a lot of up and downs but never made a crucial putt,” said the Creighton recruit. “I missed a lot of fairways and my bogeys were usually on holes I had to chip out from under the trees.”
Miller has been playing his best golf lately. He shot 68 in the district tournament last week and 68 in a tournament in Ogallala two weeks ago.
“My short game has come around, and if I can get the putter going, I might really shoot a number,” he said.
The final round of Class B starts at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The final group, including Miller, Gustafson, Boyer and Adam Dredge of Valentine, tees off at 11:30 a.m.
Class CRichard Schneider of West Point-Beemer took a four-stroke lead in the Class C individual race with a 69 at Kearney Country Club. Ponca leads Hastings St. Cecilia by one stroke in the team standings.
Class D
Alex Ring of Alma, Matt Thomas of Thedford/Sandhills and defending champion Joey Spellerberg of Archbishop Bergan each shot 76 to tie for the first-day lead in the Class D tournament at Meadowlark Hills in Kearney. Bergan leads Ewing by three strokes in the team race.
The senior from Gering is well on his way to reaching his goal after shooting a 2-under-par 69 Tuesday in the first round of the tournament at Pioneers Golf Course.
He holds a three-stroke lead over Jared Gustafson of Gretna, who shot 72. Gustafson finished third last year. Miller is four strokes over John Rakes of Nebraska City and Ryan Boyer of Gretna.
Nebraska City, led by Dylan Heng, who shot 74, is in first. Aurora is nine strokes back in second at 309 and Gering is third at 312.
Scottbluff freshman Erik Krzyzanowski, who is tied with Heng at 74, scored a hole-in-one on the 143-yard No. 17.
Miller posted birdie on five holes and bogey on three.
“I made a lot of up and downs but never made a crucial putt,” said the Creighton recruit. “I missed a lot of fairways and my bogeys were usually on holes I had to chip out from under the trees.”
Miller has been playing his best golf lately. He shot 68 in the district tournament last week and 68 in a tournament in Ogallala two weeks ago.
“My short game has come around, and if I can get the putter going, I might really shoot a number,” he said.
The final round of Class B starts at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The final group, including Miller, Gustafson, Boyer and Adam Dredge of Valentine, tees off at 11:30 a.m.
Class CRichard Schneider of West Point-Beemer took a four-stroke lead in the Class C individual race with a 69 at Kearney Country Club. Ponca leads Hastings St. Cecilia by one stroke in the team standings.
Class D
Alex Ring of Alma, Matt Thomas of Thedford/Sandhills and defending champion Joey Spellerberg of Archbishop Bergan each shot 76 to tie for the first-day lead in the Class D tournament at Meadowlark Hills in Kearney. Bergan leads Ewing by three strokes in the team race.
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