Spartan boys golf still in striking distance

D-NH in top 5 after Day 1 in 2A
 
NEWTON – On a challenging day for Grundy Center boys golf at the opening round of the Class 1A state golf tournament, the Spartans are far from out of contention.
 
The Spartans sit sixth in the Class 1A team standings at Westwood Golf Course in Newton, tied with New London with a 356 team score. Harris-Lake Park is atop the standings with a 345, followed by Westwood with a 348 and Exira/EH-K with a 350.
 
"The wind picked up a bit around noon time when we got on the back nine," Grundy Center head coach Dennis Dirks said. "And that caused some problems, we didn't play our best golf today by any means, and I really don't know the reason why."
 
Jake Bangasser leads the Spartans with an 81 that has him sixth overall as an individual. Andy Cox shot an 89, followed by Tanner Appel and Nolan Freeman with matching 93s. Matthew Sternhagen shot a 95 and Travis Kuester carded a 98.
 
Several members of this team were part of last year's squad that had a second-day surge, but Dirks is sure that every other team taking the course feels the same way about the next 18 tomorrow.
 
"I know the guys in the van here are much more capable than what they proved today," Dirks said, motioning to his players gathered in the team vehicle. "It's gonna be a fight tomorrow, if we fight for every single stroke, anything's possible."
 
AGWSR's Alex Hames, an individual qualifier for the Cougars, is tied for 36th overall with a 93.
 

PHOTOS: Class 1A State Golf in Newton (see all photos)

Weissenfluh tied for 2nd, D-NH boys 5th
 
MARSHALLTOWN – In the Class 2A state meet, Dike-New Hartford shot a team total of 322, currently fifth heading into Friday's final day of action.
 
Leading the way for the Wolverines is Bo Weissenfluh, currently in a three-way tie for second place after shooting a 72 on Thursday. Carroll Kuemper's Jared Tigges is the current leader at 71. Fellow NICL East golfer Dylan Ellis of Aplington-Parkersburg is tied for 12th after the first round, shooting a 77.
 
Colton Harberts added an 80 for D-NH. Ben Freese shot 82 and Chase Wilson rounded out the team-scoring Wolverines with an 88. Kaleb Kinskey and Nathan Kriegermeier are close behind with an 89 and 94, respectively.
 
Kuemper currently has the team lead with a 302, followed by Des Moines Christian with a 308 and PCM with a 313.