Lady Panthers take second

Even with the threat of rain, the Whitewater Invitational hosted 74 high school golfers last Saturday at Marian Hills Golf Course. Phillips County was well represented with Whitewater, Malta and Saco teams present.

Malta’s boys were led by fifth place finisher Keenan VanWichen, who scored 90. The team took second with a team score of 285. Hunter Love took sixth with 97 strokes and Cru Darrah took eighth with a score of 98. Landon VanWichen had a score of 102.

The top finishers were Plentywood’s Mollie Simonson who shot a 96, followed by Saco’s Cyra Mears who shot a 103. Glasgow’s Amy Nelson took third with 112 strokes.

The boys were led by Chinook’s Ian McIntosh and Kade Friede who had 79 and 81 respectively. Plentywood’s Andrew Eberling scored 86 to take third place.

Whitewater’s lone golfer that day was Layne Engel who shot a 112.

Engel’s day started off strong with five strokes on the first hole.

“It’s going pretty good,” Engel said after his first hole. “The first one wasn’t too bad. It’s pretty nice out. Good weather. Hopefully it lasts all day. No one likes golfing in the rain.”

Engel then reached the green in two strokes on the next hole, highlighted by a very long drive.

“It was about right where I wanted it,” he said. “It’s where it usually ends. I got on in two and two putted.”

His coach, Darren Cummings was pleased with what he saw from Engel that morning.

“He’s starting to golf well,” Coach Cummings said. “He’s hitting the ball straight. He just needs to work on his short game and he’ll get there.”

Coach Cummings praised Engel for his driving mentioning that he typically gets to the green in two strokes.

“That will come,” Coach Cummings said.

Kayleigh Cummings hasn’t seen much time on the course this season. She also runs track for Whitewater which makes things difficult.

“We’re just trying to get her out here to hit the ball occasionally,” Coach Cummings said. “If we can get her into one or two golf meets this year, we will be happy. That’s why I call her my half-a-golfer.”

Coach Cummings praised Cory Shelhamer for the quality of Marian Hills.

“This course looks amazing,” he said. “Phenomenal. For this early in the year, he does a great job getting this course ready and we couldn’t put on a meet without Marian Hills helping like this, so big kudos to them. The course looks good for how dry it is.”

Saco’s girl team consisting of Cyra Mears, Jamison Schaaf and Jada Sudbrack took third with a score of 393.

Mears led the team with 103 strokes which was good enough for second place overall. Sudbrack had 141 strokes and Schaaf had 149.

Sudbrack, a first year golfer and sophomore opened her day at the infamous hole three, a hole in which the golfer has to clear a body of water only to reach a pretty fast green on the other side. Other than putting a ball in the pond, Sudbrack was the first to put her ball in the hole.

“I thought it would rain but it turned out to be pretty nice,” she said. “It’s good weather to golf in. I’m a fair-weather golfer. I don’t golf in the rain.”

This season Sudbrack decided to take up golf instead of track due to an injury she sustained last year.

“I got hurt and I couldn’t compete for the rest of the year, so I decided to do golf,” she said. “It’s easier on your body.”

Though the year hasn’t been going as well as she would want, Sudbrack is confident her game will improve with practice.

The lone boy on Saco’s team, Christian Menge had a score of 128.

Menge had ten strokes on his first hole of the day, but after six strokes on his second hole, he was more optimistic.

“It’s going dandy,” Menge said. “I started my first hole with ten strokes but now I’m getting better, so I’m feeling good.”

For Menge, the Whitewater Invitational was his first meet of the year.

He was excited that the Whitewater invitational was held at Marian Hills, a course that he is familiar with.

“It gives me an advantage over the other golfers, though I’m not that great,” he said.

Menge’s favorite hole happens to be Hole 1, where he had five strokes that day.

“I always do well on that hole,” he said.

Menge had a few words of advice for new golfers that feel like throwing in the towel. He admitted that in his first meet he shot a 170.

“I was pretty bummed but, if you keep a good attitude, and you stick with it, you’re going to do fine,” he said. “As long as you’ve got a positive attitude, golf will be good.”

All Phillips County teams will be back at Marian Hills for the Malta Athletic Club Invitational this Saturday.