NHS captures second at Cardinal Invitational

If it weren’t for the strong breeze, Newton High’s Cardinals and the other golfers in the NHS Cardinal Invitational would have played in stifling September heat Thursday at Westwood Golf Course.

Managing the wind, weather and golf course, the Cardinals captured second place at their home meet. Newton combined for a 308, five strokes behind the tournament champion Ottumwa, which had a 303. Both teams were awarded team medals.

“I was really proud of how these young men competed today. It was hot and really windy and they kept their focus and finished second,” said Pat Riley, Newton head coach. “Ottumwa is one of the best teams in the state. Their number one player, Matthew Walker, has the lowest average individually in the entire state.”

Walker and Ottumwa teammate Dillon Patritto each fired a 70, which is one under par for 18 holes at Westwood. Patritto was top medalist on a scorecard playoff. Jake Marvelli of Indianola shot a 71 for third place.

Newton’s Austin Reynolds and Derek Damman collected the fourth and fifth-place individual medals. Reynolds took fourth on a scorecard playoff as both Cardinals finished with a 74.

Reynolds shot a 36 on his front nine holes and a 38 on the back side, carding birdies on No. 1 and No. 5. Damman turned things around on his final nine holes. After recording one birdie on the Par 5 No. 9 and ended up at 40 through nine holes, Damman had birdies on No. 14, No. 16 and No. 17 to turn in a 34 on the final nine holes.

“I don’t like playing in wind and I was frustrated how things were going on my first nine holes,” Damman said. “I got a birdie on No. 9, then took a breath and kept my composure better on the back nine. It’s the first time I’ve shot under par for nine holes.”

Damman said he got encouraging words from a couple of teammates and his coaches before heading into the final nine holes, which helped him. He said the team wanted to win its home tournament “but taking second against these larger schools was great.”

Payton Thomas carded a 76 (40-36) with birdies on No. 10 and No. 17. Devin Shores had two birdies on No. 10 and No. 15, but struggled finishing at 84 (44-40). Tyler Thongvanh had rounds of 42 and 45 for an 87 on the day while Jordan Henning, who birdied No. 14, shot a 99 (54-45).

“This is our best score of the year, by far, and I really feel we could still shoot better. I believe these kids have even better days ahead of them,” Riley said. “We beat Indianola and Marshalltown for the first time this year and it is always nice to beat Southeast Polk. I couldn’t be happier for these guys.”

Indianola finished third with 316 followed by Marshalltown at 318, Southeast Polk 325, Fort Dodge 361, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 361, Des Moines Lincoln 373, Des Moines Hoover 374, and Des Moines East 389. Fort Dodge took sixth over CBAL on a fifth-place score tiebreaker.

Michael Schrempf of Marshalltown shot a 75 for sixth place. Jake Blocher of Southeast Polk won the long drive medal and the putting champion medal went to Indianola’s Marvelli.

Newton’s junior varsity played in the tournament also. Hunter Hartgrave led the junior varsity team with a 95 followed by Paul Maharry with a 98, Shaiden Simmons with a 102, Trey Vanderlaan at 103, and Nick VerSteeg at 112.

Contact Sports Editor Jocelyn Sheets at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com.