Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Bridgeport wins Kimball tourney, Longhorns finish second

Eric Stevens shot the low medalist round of 79 sparking his Bridgeport team to the top finish at the Kimball High Invitational Golf Tournament this past week with Kimball finishing in the number two spot.

Coach Todd Janicek's boy's avenged a Western Trails loss to the Kimball team from a week earlier as they shot the winning score of 349 with Kimball runnerup with 362. Behind the top two were Perkins County 372, Chase County 379, Sidney 388, Creek Valley 401, and Gordon-Rushville 447.

Kimball sophomore Jordan Greenwood finished one stroke back of Stevens with his round of 41-39=80 to take second place in the individual top ten medal group. Playing in the same four some, these two battled hard the entire round with both shooting 41 on the front nine. Greenwood got his game going on the back nine and was under par through 15 holes, and even par after 17 holes. After a long tee shot on number 18 which was just off the left side of the fairway, he hit his approach shot long and over the green out of bounds on the final hole and ended up with a double bogey that cost him the medalist honors.

Although disappointed with not taking top honors on his home course, none the less, he was once again in the top ten medal group and had a good day on the golf course. Stevens, a freshman, will battle with Greenwood for two more seasons.

Rounding out the top ten medal group were Darrin Knobbe-Chase County 82, Tyler Thelander-Perkins County 84, Josh Johnston-Perkins County 86, Austin Rowley-Creek Valley 87, Jake Burke-Sidney 87, Michael Ferguson-Kimball 88, Tyler Jennings-Chase County 88, Cole Retchless-Bridgeport 89.

Michael Ferguson shot 47 on the front nine but came back strong on the back with a 41 for his 88 and an 8th place finish. Freshman Kole Bush finished just out of the money with a good round of 43-47=90, Kyle Spicer shot 53-51=104, and Andrew McCloud was 50-55=105. Kimball also played three junior varsity players with Garrett Pedersen shooting 48-54=102, Spencer Shields 58-61=119, and Joel Evertson 59-60=119.

Kimball was to have their final tune up prior to District at the post-poned Bridgeport Tournament this past Monday, but once again bad weather struck and the tournament has now been canceled. The Longhorns will now move into District Tournament play at McCook, also a change from the original site of Cambridge and District play will be this Monday, May 18, another change from the original date of May 19. Coach Chad Wise and the team will travel early enough they will have a practice round at McCook over the weekend.

Kimball will be taking only two golfers to the District Tournament including returning state qualifier and state medalist Jordan Greenwood and sophomore team mate Spencer Shields. The other six golfers made the decision to make the Band Trip to Chicago as the two events conflicted. At District the top 3 teams and top 10 individuals qualify for state with any ties in the top ten allowing all to go with playoffs for the medals.

 
 
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