Storm claim first team win at Sutherland Invite

Though Creek Valley had already learned they were the champions of the Sutherland Invite Tuesday, edging North Platte by two strokes, there was still one more score to settle.

Fresh off the heels of his best round of the season at Kimball last week, Lane Godfrey attempted to win a second consecutive individual gold medal. But he and Anselmo Cano of Garden County would have to go overtime to settle the matter.

Godfrey admittedly wasn't as sharp as he was in shooting a 73 at Kimball's Four Winds Golf Course. He nevertheless battled his way into the first-place tie. The big difference between his stellar rounds of recent tournaments was largely due to the flat stick.

"My putting was really off today," said Godfrey, who required 33 putts to complete his round. "I thought I was doing everything else pretty well."

Godfrey also considered the greens to be a little rough.

"I wasn't sure if it was guys not fixing their ball marks or just the condition of the greens," he said.

Though a little unhappy with his 85 after shooting 79 on this same course last season, Godfrey put it all behind him as he headed for the playoff on the 6th tee. While both golfers pushed their drives well right, Godfrey managed to hit the green in regulation on the par 4, 396-yard hole.

Hitting second, Cano slapped his follow-up shot right, as well--nudged off line by a strong left-to-right wind. He ended up on the cart path about 20 yards right of the green.

Attempting to use a putter from the dirt cart path - which required going over some thick rough - Cano came up short. His next shot reached the green three feet short of the hole.

Needing only a two putt to win, Godfrey played a perfect lag to inside a foot. He then sank the tap in for his fourth playoff win this season in as many attempts.

Thanks to their strong back nines, not as much drama was required in the team competition.

Playing twice over the nine-hole track, each of the Creek Valley players cut strokes on their second time around. The improved play allowed the Storm to turn a seven-stroke deficit into a two-stroke win.

Creek Valley's varsity scores included Godfrey (85), Wyatt McMillen (99), Cory Phillips (102), Brett Godfrey (102) and Joe Van Winkle (103).

"After that front nine I thought they could all do better and they did," said Storm Coach Cyd Hanson. "This gives us a nice boost going into districts next week."

Perhaps the relaxed attitude of the Storm five had something to do with the improvement.

"I didn't think the wind was that bad," said McMillen despite a stream of air that measured at better than 20 mph. "I guess it just depended on which way it was blowing. It was a lot of fun hitting down wind. The ball really traveled."

While only Lane Godfrey (43) was able to break 50 on his front nine, all of the Storm players carded sub 50 on the back. Godfrey shot 42 and Van Winkle 48 to lead the resurgence. Brett Godfrey, Phillips and McMillen all shot 49.

With the conclusion of the Sutherland Invite, Creek Valley's regular season comes to an end. They now look forward to districts.

"I'm pretty optimistic for the team at districts," said Phillips. "This is an OK course but it's hard to know what we're going to get with the weather. I didn't think it affected the ball in the air so much, but it made it harder to putt."

Districts at Oregon Trail G.C. are scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. CDT.

Sutherland Invite

Team Scores

1. Creek Valley 388

2. North Platte 390

3. Hershey 398

3. Sutherland 398

5. Paxton 425

6. Chase County 454

7. South Platte 462

8. Perkins County 494

Individual Results

1. Lane Godfrey, Creek Valley 85

2. Anselmo Cano, Garden Co. 85

3. Joel Schroeder, Paxton 89

4. Landan Maassen, Hershey 90

5. Jordan Richardson, Sutherland 92

6. Brook Blomstedt, Sutherland 95

7. David Young, Garden County 95

8. Joe Waalkens, North Platte 95

9. Chase Miyamoto, Perkins Co. 96

10. Austin Golter, North Platte 97

Creek Valley Scores

Lane Godfrey 85

Wyatt McMillen 99

Cory Phillips 102

Brett Godfrey 102

Joe Van Winkle 103