Newton, PCM boys face stacked field at Knoxville

KNOXVILLE — The Newton boys golf team posted its second-best 18-hole score this spring and PCM finished 10 strokes under its season average, but a tough field pushed both programs to the bottom of a six-team field at the Knoxville Invitational on Saturday.

Eighteen golfers posted scores of less than 80 at the par 70 Pine Knolls Golf Club. And host Knoxville was just too good for the rest of the field.

The Panthers, who have the fifth-best average in Class 3A, won their tournament with a 284.

“We didn’t play bad today,” Newton head boys golf coach Pat Riley said. “I think we’re capable of better, but there were some good teams today and Knoxville played really well.”

Pella Christian finished second with a 306, while Pella (311), Albia (315), PCM (316) and Newton (330) finalized the tournament.

The Panthers posted a score 26 shots below their season average, while Pella and PCM both were 10 strokes under theirs.

Pella Christian came into the day with the third-best average in 2A, while Albia is in the top 20 of 3A.

Jackson Price of Newton led the area golfers in sixth as he posted a 75. He had splits of 40 and 35.

“I was pleased with how Jackson came back after a rough front nine and shot even on the back,” Riley said. “Kinnick was sick for three days so the fact that he finished today and shot 81 is commendable.”

The rest of the Newton scorers were Kinnick Pritchard (81), Peyton Rozendaal (86) and Lincoln Peterson (career-best 88).

Grant Osby (91) and Ethan Pageler (93) turned in non-counting scores.

Pritchard and Rozendaal turned things around with strong back nine scores of 38 and 39, respectively.

“Peyton turned it around big time on the back,” Riley said. “Those are the scores I know he’s capable of shooting. Lincoln had a great day putting. He’s really coming around as a super dependable player. Grant is on the verge of breaking out and Ethan continues to improve his short game.”

Easton Van Veen finished ninth and led PCM with a 77. Nick Farver and Pete Kiernan turned in 79s and finished 15th and 18th, respectively.

The final counting score for the Mustangs came from Charlie Ford, who finished with an 81. Jeffrey McDanel (86) and Trent Nickelson (92) had non-counting scores.

Van Veen turned in a 37 on the back nine, while Farver had a 38 on the front and Kiernan scored a 38 on the back.

Knoxville’s Evan Smith was the meet medalist with a 3-under-par 67 and his teammate Carson Uitermarkt was the runner-up medalist with a 2-under-par 68.

The Panthers’ top four scores finished in the first 10 positions, while Pella Christian placed three in the top 11.

“We are closing in on the end of the season. That’s when I want them at the top of their games,” Riley said. “Every meet from here on out is a test as to how we are going to finish. I’m sad to see the season coming to close so fast.”