Sidney golfers take 5th in Gothenburg

GOTHENBURG, Neb. – The Sidney High School golf team – along with 14 other schools – took on the rolling hills, tall rough and fierce winds of the links-style Wild Horse Golf Club on Thursday and wound up in fifth place.

McCook took top honors with 315 strokes, while the Bearcats of Scottsbluff finished four back in second. Wahoo Neumann (320) and North Platte (328) also finished ahead of Sidney (342).

In the individual competition, the Scottsbluff's Jonah Wright scored an even-par 72 to finish one stroke ahead of McCook's Noah Hoffman.

Sidney's Nate Dvorak wound up in a tie for ninth as he carded an 80. The other Raiders scores included Ryan Birner at 84, Garrett Wamsley and Connor Dormann with 89s and Brady Radcliffe with a 90.

Perhaps most significantly, the Raiders were playing in a tournament that included 10 of its 12 district foes with only Chadron and Alliance absent. Among the squads from Class B District 4, the Raiders finished third. To qualify for the state tournament at the end of May, Sidney would have to finish among the top three at districts. The Class B District 4 tournament will be held on Sidney's home ground at Hillside Golf Course on May 18.

With three of the Raiders having played in the top spot this year, Dvorak helped solidify his status at No. 1 with his ninth-place finish. Dvorak went out in 39 and came back in 41 after lipping out a short putt on 18.

"My driver was working very well today. I hit a lot of fairways," Dvorak said. "The wind was pretty strong though. Even when I hit the ball low it was still about a two-club wind."

Dvorak struggled a little with his putting on the back nine but hit the ball solidly. Though he ended up scoring a bogey on the final hole, his drive landed just right of the center cut about 290 yards from the tee into a wind of better than 20 mph.

Birner, who has been perhaps the Raiders most consistent player this season, wound up with another solid round of 84. In Wamsley's last competitive round, he struggled to his worst score of the season by a wide margin. Though still not where he wants to be, Wamsley fought his way to a respectable 89.

"Garrett kept grinding today, he didn't give up," said Red Raiders' head coach Chuck Christensen. "That's what we need from him."

After admitting to giving up halfway through his last round, Wamsley was committed to fighting his way to the finish.

"The way I was playing last time I got so frustrated, I just gave up," Wamsley said. "Today the wind was a factor, but not so bad that I should have played as poorly as I did. Even though I didn't play as well as I wanted, I kept grinding to save every stroke. I didn't want to shoot another 108."

Freshman Connor Dormann, who teed off on the 10th hole, struggled to a 47 on his first nine holes. He rebounded with a 42 on his second nine to equal Wamsley's 89.

"Actually, I started out pretty well and it got a little rough through the middle holes of my first nine," said Dormann, who continued to hit his high ball into the strong wind throughout the round. "The wind didn't cause me much of a problem, I just hit more club when I needed to."

The Raiders will get another strong dose of district competition when they travel to Alliance on Saturday. The shotgun start is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

GOTHENBURG INVITE RESULTS

@ Wild Horse Golf Club, Gothenburg

(Par 36-36–72)

Team Scores

1. McCook 315

2. Scottsbluff 319

3. Wahoo Neumann 320

4. North Platte 328

5. Sidney 342

6. Cozad 348

7. Minden 357

8. Gothenburg 361

8. Lexington 361

10. Gering 376

11. Broken Bow 378

12. Holdrege 387

13. Bellevue East 397

14. Gothenburg JV 406

15. Ogallala 409

Top 10 Individual Scores

1. Jonah Wright Scottsbluff 72

2. Noah Hoffman McCook 73

3. Kort Steele North Platte 74

4. John Kenney Wahoo Neumann 75

5. Brian McMahon Lexington 77

6. Hannah Thiele Wahoo Neumann 78

6. Masen Sis McCook 78

8. Tyson Block Lexington 79

9. Jared Pilkington Scottsbluff 80

9. Nate Dvorak Sidney 80

Sidney High Scores

Nate Dvorak 80

Ryan Birner 84

Garrett Wamsley 89

Connor Dormann 89

Brady Radcliffe 90