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State bound: Tigers steamroll competition at sectional tournament, win by 21 strokes
For the second consecutive season the Nevada High School golf team has qualified for the Class 3 State Tournament.
Nevada’s performance at Monday’s Class 3 Sectional 4 Tournament held at Excelsior Springs Country Club was thoroughly convincing, as the Tigers throttled the competition, winning by 21 strokes with a team score of 317. Pembroke Hill (K.C.), 2015 state champions and ’16 state runner-up, placed a distant second to Nevada with a team score of 338. The good news for Pembroke Hill, however, is that the top two sectional teams qualify for state.
Nevada senior John Quitno tied for first-place individually, carding a 3-over-par 75. Also firing a 75 was Cole Elling of St. Pius X.
Additionally for Nevada, senior Patrick Ferry tied for fourth with an 18-hole score of 8-over 80. Fellow NHS senior Jacob Hammontee, along with sophomore Bronson Smith, placed in a four-way tie for sixth with an 9-over 81.
Quitno carded three birdies, which included two par 3s and a par 4, but was hurt by three front-nine bogies and back-to-back back nine bogies, including a double-bogie on 11. Quitno was able to regroup and finish out strong, with a birdie on the par-3 13th hole, followed by three consecutive pars, a birdie and another par to finish out on 18.
Ferry, likewise had some front-nine struggles with a double-bogey on hole No. 5, followed by four consecutive bogies to conclude the round. Ferry, however, finished out strong on the back-nine.
“The course we played at was built in 1915, and they’ve put some money into it the last five or six years and it was in great shape,” said Nevada golf coach Brian Leonard. “The greens were playing really, really fast. A lot of the greens slanted from back to front, so if you were long, you were having to chip back over. Even if you hit the green and hit it in the wrong spot, it was a for-sure three putt if not a four-putt.”
Leonard said he was pleased with the mental toughness Quitno and Ferry displayed after carding several bogies.
“I think the highlight of the day for us, was John continuing to fight to stay three-over, and then Patrick’s comeback on the back-side to shoot two-over,” said Leonard. “Patrick was six-over after the first nine. I was excited about the way they finished up.”
Leonard said he was also pleased with sophomore Carter Swearingen’s 18-hole score of 99.
“We’ve been trying to get his scores down, and his goal is to shoot 90,” Leonard noted.
Nevada’s senior trio will hit the links one last time together, at the Class 3 State Tournament, May 15-16 at Sedalia Country Club.
“They’re great young men,” said Leonard. “They’re very respectful and polite. They’re gentlemen on the golf course –– but they know how to play golf too.”
Leonard continued” “We’re going to have a fun week. We’re going to work on some things at practice –– go out and have some fun and spend the week together as a team. We will be working on the little things at practice –– chipping and putting and just kind of have a relaxed week going in to the state tournament.
“We’re leaving for Sedalia on Sunday morning, and will be teeing off at 2 p.m. for a practice round.”
Leonard said official tee times for the Class 3 State Tournament won’t be released until mid-week.