Menu
NHS golf posts fourth-place finish at WCC tourney
Nevada High’s golf team opened postseason play Thursday with a fourth-place finish at the seven-team West Central Conference tournament.
The Tigers tallied 347 team points, finishing just two strokes back of third-place Clinton. St. Pius claimed the conference crown, carding a 321 at the 18-hole par 70, Sedalia Country Club — while Warrensburg slotted into the runner-up finish (328).
The Tigers had a pair of standout performances, as juniors Bronson Smith and Carter Swearingen tied for fifth, after both fired an 11-over-par 81.
Smith concluded the front-nine all alone in second-place, at 2-over-par 37, just three strokes back of eventual champion, Clinton’s Austin Gillund. Smith then had a tougher time navigating the back-nine, as he concluded with a 9-over-par 44. Meanwhile, Swearingen, shot a 5-over-par 40 on the front-nine, before finishing out the back-nine at 6-over.
“Bronson started out really good, but struggled bringing it to the clubhouse,” began NHS golf coach Brian Leonard. “His struggles started on No. 14 (back-nine) with a double-bogey, after a shanked wedge from about 120 yards. He continued to fight, but had to settle for bogies on holes 15, 16, and 17 — which didn’t hurt too bad. Then he lost one left off the tee at 18, and then tried to make up that loss on the next shot; hit a tree and lost another one in the H2O.
“He then settled for a tough triple-bogey on 18, to finish his round of 81. Other than those last four or five holes — he had a good day.”
Leonard said he was pleased with Swearingen’s strong showing.
“He let a few strokes get away with a couple of three-putts, but overall he had a good day,” summed up Leonard.
The junior duo was able to snag All-WCC accolades, with the top 12 gofers from the event receiving the honor.
Finishing in 18th, NHS senior Jonathan Portwood fired a two-round 20-over-par 90. Nevada newcomer Matt Thompson placed 22nd, with a 25-over-par 95. Rounding out Nevada’s scorecard, senior Jordan Peckman carded a 109. Nevada’s sixth golfer, freshman Pierson Dennison, finished with a final score, 135.
“Jon had a good day on a course he was unfamiliar with,” said Leonard. “Hopefully, he and Matt can stay in the low 90s, and preferably 80s on the district course.”
Team scores
• St. Pius, 321; Warrensburg, 328; Clinton, 345; Nevada, 347; Smith-Cotton H.S., 396; St. Michael’s, 398; Center H.S., 483.
Up next
The Class 3 District 7 Tournament, Monday at Mules National Golf Course in Warrensburg. NHS tee times are as follows: Smith and Peckman, 9 a.m.; Swearingen, 9:16 a.m.; Portwood, 9:32 a.m.; and Thompson, 9:40 a.m.
The top two teams advance to the Class 3 Section 4 Tournament.