Hull, Pohlmann in Class B title hunt

LINCOLN - Perhaps he was just checking if he was still hot, or maybe something about Derek Hull's one-under-par 69 round bothered him.

Either way, after the Schuyler senior carded the second-best score at the Class B state boys golf tournament, he went back to the golf course when he returned to Schuyler Tuesday evening. Hull is in second place after the first day, only one stroke behind Kyle Huus of Sidney, who closed the round birdie-birdie.

“I just went out there and worked on a few things,” Hull said. “There's always something to practice.”

The tournament is scheduled to wrap up today at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln. Tee times were adjusted as golfers will begin on the first and 10th tees with storms predicted to threaten the area. Sidney leads the team race with a 304, while Scottsbluff is second at 314.

Hull isn't the only area golfer with a chance to end the season with hardware. Lakeview's Greg Pohlmann carded a 73 and sits in fifth place, while Boone Central's Bobby Bolin is tied for 28th place, just three strokes out of a medal, after his round of 79.

Hull, a Central Community College-Columbus golf recruit, shot a pedestrian 37 on the front nine, but caught fire after making the turn. On the 10th hole, Hull sunk a 35-foot putt for a birdie and then he chipped in for par on the 12th hole.

“I knew everything was going my way then,” Hull said. “At that point my confidence was soaring.”

The 6-foot-6 Warrior continued to post pars and birdies and capped his round off with another birdie on No. 18. Hull hit a monster drive that went an estimated 350 yards, leaving a 40-yard chip he stuck inside of five feet for the short putt.

With his 32 on the back nine and 18-hole total of 69, Hull established new school records. Schuyler coach Tom Hagewood said after four years at the state tournament, Hull finally played up to his potential.

“We've been watching him at state for four years, and I've known Derek's been able to shoot like this,” Hagewood said. “We've seen his play with (two-time state champion) John Hurley, and about the only difference, is Hurley is so consistent. Derek finally showed that today.”

Hull said the low first-round score will help him relax and focus on just having fun in the final group.

“It takes pressure off me so much,” Hull said. “I'm not going out there like I need to win. At the Wayne Invite, I went out and just played, didn't put pressure on myself and won.”

Pohlmann also finished his round strong with a 35 on the back nine after shooting three-over before the turn. However, the Lakeview junior said he left a couple of strokes on the course.

“He played himself back in the tournament on the backside,” Lakeview coach Ryan Specht said. “His front nine wasn't very good, but he did a nice job of coming back.”

Pohlmann finished the round with just one birdie - on No. 11 - which he said was too low considering how easy the par 5s were playing.

Eventually, Pohlmann turned his game around with better iron play and making more putts. Specht said Pohlmann played solid and put himself in position to make easy putts for par.

“I starting finding my swing on the back nine,” Pohlmann said. “I started hitting some better shots and that always helps with the confidence.”

Pohlmann will tee off in the second to last group and will try to close out strong for his third straight top 10 finish. Even though he is paired with his closest competition, Pohlmann said playing with other good golfers can help him shoot lower.

“Today, I wasn't playing the best I could, but playing with people that are playing good helps out,” he said. “You can key off them.”

Class B boys state tournament

First round results

Tuesday at Mahoney Golf Course:

n Team scoring - 1. Sidney, 304; 2. Scottsbluff, 315; 3. Gretna, 316; 4. Gering, 318; 5. Nebraska City, 319; 6. Grand Island Northwest, 319; 7. Blair, 319; 8. Fairbury, 320; 9. Adams Central, 325; 10. Waverly, 328; 11. O'Neill, 331; 12. Wayne, 333.

n Individual leaders - 1. Kyle Huus, Sidney, 68; 2. Derek Hull, Schuyler, 69; 3. Austin Miller, Gering, 70; 4. Collin Vacek, Blair, 72; 5. Greg Pohlmann, Lakeview, 73; 6. Jared Gustafson, Gretna, 74; 7t. Nathan Cox, Northwest, 75; 7t. Lee Horky, Fairbury, 75; 7t. Michael Havermann, Ogallala, 75; 7t. Richard Schneider, West Point-Beemer, 75.

n Lakeview (NTS)-Greg Pohlmann 73.

n Boone Central (NTS)-Bobby Bolin 79.

n Schuyler (NTS)-Derek Hull 69.