Jay Rickertsen
Interim Sports Editor
September 11, 2008 11:41 am
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CLINTON — A stroke here or there.
According to Clinton High head golf coach Paul Niedermeyer that is all that separates the River Kings from being a top flight team.
“We are really close to being a pretty good team,” he said. “We just need to find another stroke or two per person and we will be a pretty good team.”
On Wednesday, the Clinton boys golf team illustrated what their coach meant by that by taking fourth place as they hosted the 2008 River King Invitational at Clinton Country Club.
The River Kings finished with a team score of 334, just five strokes behind second place Pleasant Valley.
Mississippi Valley Conference power Dubuque Wahlert won the team title with a four-person combined score of 320.
Muscatine finished just ahead of Clinton with a score of 333.
Fifth place Davenport North finished nine strokes behind the River Kings with 343. Burlington (345), Davenport West (351) and North Scott (362) rounded out the team scoring.
Niedermeyer feels that the few strokes needed to improve can come with practice.
“We seem to be making a couple mistakes out there that keep us from shooting some really good scores,” he added. “The guys are working hard and will continue to improve as we head into the second half of the season.”
Sophomore Jeremy Miller led the River Kings with a sixth place finish on a round of 81 a week after placing fourth at the North Scott Invitational.
“Jeremy played another solid round as he was our meet medalist again,” Niedermeyer said.
Senior Elliott Deering place just outside the top ten at 11th place with a round of 83.
“Elliott rebounded with a strong back nine after a tough front side,” Niedermeyer said. “He showed his senior experience and didn’t get down on himself and came back strong.”
Fellow senior Brennen Roling was a stroke behind Deering with an 84 good for a tie for 15th, while freshman Christian Rowan tied for 22nd with an 86.
“Brennen had another decent round and Christian continues to play pretty well for a freshman,” Niedermeyer added. “I was also pleased with Alex Feaster and Matt Gray.”
Feaster and Gray tied with Rowan for 22nd with rounds of 86.
“They played good rounds, both shooting 86s considering they have not had a lot of varsity experience.”
Junior Tony Balk finished 18 holes with a score of 92, while teammate Greg Heysinger withdrew from competition.
A pair of Dubuque Wahlert golfers topped the individual standings in leading the Eagles to the team win.
Junior Steven Ihm and senior David Dodds each shot a six-over-par 78 to share medalist honors.
Davenport North’s Spence Jones was just a stroke back a 79 to take third.
Pleasant Valley’s Will DeDoncker and Jacob Ward each shot an 80 to tie for fourth in leading the Spartans to a second place finish.
The River Kings will be back in action today when they travel to Geneva Country Club to take on Mississippi Athletic Conference rival Muscatine in a dual.
2008 RIVER KING INVITATIONAL
At Clinton Country Club
Team scores
1, Dubuque Wahlert 320; 2, Pleasant Valley 329; 3, Muscatine 333; 4, Clinton 334; 5, Davenport North 343; 6, Burlington 345; 7, Davenport West 351; 8, North Scott 362.
Meet medalists
Steven Ihm, Dubuque Wahlert and David Dodds, Dubuque Wahlert 78.
Individual top ten and Clinton placings
1(tie), Ihm (Dubuque Wahlert) 78; 1(tie), Dodds (Dubuque Wahlert) 78; 3, Spence Jones (Davenport North) 79; 4(tie), Will DeDoncker (Pleasant Valley) 80; 4(tie), Jacob Ward (Pleasant Valley) 80; 6(tie), Jeremy Miller (Clinton) 81; 6(tie), Cody Ries (Dubuque Wahlert) 81; 8(tie), Austin Young (Muscatine) 82; 8(tie), Josh Anderson (Muscatine) 82; 8(tie), Chad Hatch (Burlington) 82; 11(tie), Elliott Deering (Clinton) 83; 15(tie), Brennen Roling (Clinton) 84; 22(tie), Chrisian Rowan (Clinton) 86; 22(tie), Alex Feaster (Clinton) 86; 22(tie), Matt Gray (Clinton) 86; 39(tie), Tony Balk 92; DNF, Greg Heysinger (Clinton) WD.
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