Raiders take fifth at state

The Sidney Red Raiders golf team apparently found cold and wind just a little more to its liking than the combination of cold, wind and rain, as the squad moved up a spot to finish the 2013 Class B State Championships in fifth place in drier conditions.

Though the team upped its status slightly, the Raiders leading player Rachel Petik dropped back a few spots to finish just out of the medals in a tie for 17th.

Petik still led the Raiders with rounds of 88 and 95 for a 183 total.

The other Raiders included Karson Langley (100-89-189), Katelin Cole (100-96-196), Jessica Campbell (98-100- 198) and Theda Parker (115-102-217).

Scottsbluff (705) rallied from third after Monday's play to take the team competiiton. Though the Bearcats trailed Monday leader Beatrice by 13 strokes, the team improved by 29 shots on Tuesday for the title. Megan Pilkington helped lead the Bearcat charge with a days best score of 80. Elkhorn South (715) finished second while Beatrice (717) slipped back to third.

Megan Vetrovsky (81-83-164) of McCook won the individual competition, edging out defending champion Nicolle Barmettler (83-85-188) of Elkhorn South. Day-one leader Lauren Pelster (80-90-170) of Omaha Duchesne Academy was third.

"We reached our goal for the season by making state," said Raiders Coach Jody O'Connell. "We didn't want to be left home for the second year in a row."

Under O'Connell, the Raiders have made in seven of eight years, with last season being the lone exception.

With the wind blowing consistently over 20 mph and gusts over 30, much of the field struggled on Tuesday, as they had on day one. While Tuesday was colder than Monday many had remarked, "at least there wasn't any rain."

Petik played her second round with familiar faces. Sam Rahmig of Gering and Jordan York of Scottsbluff have been familiar competitors for the Raiders this season. Rahmig was also along side Petik in round one.

Petik's round was a mixture of solid play with a few big numbers mixed in. She opened with a triple bogey and two doubles in her first four holes. Despite the tough start her fight didn't go away. She birdied the par-5 sixth to wind up with a front-side 45. Doubles on the opening three holes on the back side slowed her momentum. But again Petik showed throwing in the towel isn't her style as she ended her day with pars on 17 and 18.

"It wasn't fun," Petik said of the cold and wind. "But I can't blame all my bad shots on the conditions."

Langley ended her year as she began it - by breaking 90. After shooting an opening-day 100, Langley was more consistent on day two on her way to an 89. While her Monday round was sabotaged by big numbers, she kept her bad holes to a minimum on Tuesday.

"Today I just thought about playing well. I wanted to be in the 80s," Langley said. "I was hitting my driver well today. I was also playing the par threes well, which means my irons were working too."

Langley played the four par threes in just two over including pars on the third and 14th holes.

"I'm a little disappointed I didn't play better yesterday, but I'm happy with the way I finished," she said.

Katelin Cole also improved from a first day score of 100. The highlight of her round was a chip-in birdie on the fourth hole. She was also more consistent than she was on Monday when she went out in 45 and came in with a 55.

"I was pretty good with all my irons today that was probably the biggest difference from yesterday," Cole said. "My putting was bad though. I'm usually a pretty good putter."

Campbell, who qualified for play in the individual competition at districts, was disappointed with her two days of work. Throughout the season she's never been comfortable playing in blustery weather.

"It was definitely a had day to play in the wind," Campbell said. "It just seems to get in my head."

Campbell, like Langley, Cole and Petik is a senior who has played on the team since whe was a freshman. Though not thrilled with her state tournament, she had a good year.

"I'm satisfied with the results of the year," she said. "I'll remember Gering the most and I'm glad the team made it here."

At the Gering Invite earlier this year Campbell shot an 84 to medal at Monument Shadows Golf Course.

The junior Parker had the most dramatic improvement over her day-one score as she dropped 13 strokes.

"Before today's round I was just thinking this was my last tournament," Parker said. "I wanted to play well today. I wanted to do my best."

Though Parker, who teed off on the 10th hole stumbled a little early with doubles on her first two holes, she played the side more consistently thereafter.

"I wanted to hit the ball better today and I did. I was very happy with my drives today," Parker said.