The Kingsley-Pierson/River Valley boys golf team finished third in the Western Valley Conference tournament on Monday at a windy Willow Creek Golf Course in Le Mars.
The wind was no excuse for the Panthers whose 366 came 25 strokes off the tournament champion Ridge View. Head coach Tim Dirksen says everyone was contending with the same elements, and he was hoping his guys would do a little bit better in the conditions.
One guy who did do pretty good was Vincent Koelling who shot a 74 and finished as runner-up medalist for the tournament by one stroke. Koelling has been a dominant force all season, and Coach Dirksen attributes that to his consistency on the course.
It is an incredibly quick turnaround for the Panthers who host sectional golf a day earlier than everyone else. This gives them a situation where they play 36 holes in a 24-hour span giving them no time to adjust things or prepare for their next task. On a positive note, they are at home, but Coach Dirksen knows what they shot in Le Mars will not hold up with the competition in Kingsley.
That sectional golf meet is the only Class 1A sectional meet to compete on Tuesday. It will also feature Plymouth County teams like Akron-Westfield and Remsen St. Mary’s.
