Pritchard leads Newton boys golf in season opener

DES MOINES — Kinnick Pritchard finished in the top 10 and the three other returners carded career-best scores during the season opener for the Newton boys’ golf team on Friday.

Pritchard matched his career-best score with a 79 and finished tied for ninth during the Saydel Eagles Boys’ Golf Invitational at Woodland Hills. The Cardinals were seventh in the eight-team field.

“I’m happy with our first outing,” Newton head boys golf coach Pat Riley said. “I knew we were going in with very little experience. The guys handled themselves well.”

Pella Christian won the tournament with a 306. Gilbert (309), Oskaloosa (317), Pella (330) and West Marshall (350) completed the top five. Earlham (351), Newton (378) and host Saydel (423) finalized the field.

Four players shot 74s at the top of the individual leaderboard. Pella Christian’s Cooper Spronk was the medalist and Oskaloosa’s Johnathon Terpstra was the runner-up. Eleven golfers had scores better than 80.

Pritchard’s 79 included a 36 on the front nine and 43 on the back. His round featured eight pars.

Peyton Rozendaal shot a 95 and had a personal-best score by 25 strokes. Colin Cummins was next with a personal-best 100.

Lane Rozendaal fired a 104 and Ethan Pageler shot a 106 in their varsity debuts. Lincoln Peterson carded a career-best 107.

Peterson’s career-best was by 10 shots and Cummins had a personal best by seven strokes.

“Kinnick did his thing like I knew he would and the rest of the guys shot better than I expected,” Riley said. “I know we will continue to improve not only with our skills but with handling the pressures of playing in a tournament format.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how far these guys will climb as the season unfolds.”