COLUMBUS -- The high winds denied many low scores during Class A-2 district action at Elks Country Club Monday, but the Columbus High boys golf team managed to do well.
The Discoverers shot a 327 on the day to take third place and a spot at the state tournament in Lincoln next Tuesday.
Norfolk took the top spot at the district with a 304, and Millard North finished with a 321 for the silver.
CHS head coach Rick Benson said he thought the home course advantage may have helped his squad edge a good Lincoln East team for the final team qualifying slot. Columbus was nine strokes better than East on the day.
“Lincoln East is a great team and I knew Norfolk and Millard North would be tough,” Benson said. “I knew our home course would have to be the edge for us, and it was today.”
Adam Bouc also found his way to the tournament as an individual golfer after carding a 79 for eighth place. Bouc had a 44 on the front nine, then really picked up his game on the back, shooting a 39. Bouc said the wind was tough to judge, but he felt better about his round as the day went on.
Benson said he wasn’t surprised Bouc led the team and qualified for state, as Bouc has been a team leader throughout the season.
“He’s just been so solid for us and that continued today,” Benson said. “His scores always seem to be used by us in tournaments. He’s really been a valuable asset.”
Bouc tied with three other golfers at 79, but bettered two of them in a scorecard playoff (how the golfers finished the last hole). Scott Bruening of Norfolk shot a 73 to win the district title, with teammate Lance Lawson right behind with a 74.
Three other Discoverers managed to keep scores down in the low 80s, which made it possible to finish third. Andy Markham stepped up in the No. 5 slot to shoot an 81 on the day, which was second best for Columbus. Louie Rambour had an 82, and Grant Gotschall rounded out the scoring with an 85. Jordan Williams had a tough back nine, carding a 50 as he went on to shoot a 93.
Though the team’s goal is to average around a 78 at tournaments, Benson said shooting the scores they did wasn’t bad considering the extremely windy conditions.
“The temperature wasn’t bad, but the wind was a big deciding factor,” Benson said. “I wasn’t sure 327 would get us in, but fortunately today it got us there. The wind made a huge difference for everybody. There weren’t very many low scores at all.”
The Discoverers will head to Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln Tuesday and Wednesday for the state tournament. Benson said the team won’t be changing up its routine before state.
“We won’t do a whole lot different,” he said. “We just need to continue with our routine and hope it works out down there.”
During the medal ceremony Monday, CHS Activities Director Brad Hansen presented Benson with a lifetime pass to Columbus High School events. Benson is retiring as head boys golf and wrestling coach at the end of the year.
A-2 DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Monday at Elks Country Club
n Team Standings - 1. Norfolk 304, 2. Millard North 321, 3. Columbus 327, 4. Lincoln East 336, 5. Lincoln North Star 338, 6. Bellevue West 343, 7. Omaha Westside 349, 8. Millard South 354.
n Individual Top 10 ” 1. Scott Bruening, NOR, 73; 2. Lance Lawson, NOR, 74; 3. Jack Peterson, MN, 75; 4. Brandon Braasch, BW, 78; 5. Tyler Erwin, NOR, 78; 6. Owen Stewart, LE, 78; 7. Andrew Srb, LNS, 79; 8. Adam Bouc, COL, 78; 9. Teven Cuddeford, LNS, 79; 10. Colby Blackman, NOR, 79.
n Columbus Results: Jordan Williams 93, Bouc 79, Louie Rambour 82, Grant Gotschall 85, Andy Markham 81.
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