March 29, 2024

Panthers sail to district

Three Creston/O-M golfers finish in top four

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ATLANTIC — Creston/O-M dominated the Class 3A sectional golf tournament Friday at Atlantic Golf and Country Club, scoring a 21-stroke victory over runner-up ADM and claiming three of the four individual district qualifying positions.

The Panthers posted a 290, led by medalist Christian Groumoutis with a 2-over-par 71. Teammate Coleton Hoepker won a playoff for runner-up medalist with Carroll’s Zac Riddell after both posted a 72. Panther senior Sam Hartsock was fourth at 73, and Kyle Somers was close behind at 74.

“It was nice to have first, second and fourth place,” said Creston/O-M coach Jan Lesan. “Kyle Somers missed out by one stroke. These kids are just fun to watch. They are focused and determined. One tournament down and two more to go.”

It took two playoff holes for the runner-up spot to be decided.

“Coleton was in a sudden death playoff with Zac Riddell from Carroll,” Lesan said. “They both bogeyed the first hole. Then Coleton parred the second hole and Zac bogeyed again. That determined second place.”

The Class 3A boys sectional originally set for Thursday at Spencer Golf and Country Club was postponed until today. Participating schools will include Algona, Denison-Schleswig, Humboldt, Le Mars, MOC-Floyd Valley, Spencer, Spirit Lake and Storm Lake.

The district tournament involving Creston/O-M, ADM and the qualifiers from Spencer will be played Friday at Majestic Hills Golf Course, hosted by Denison-Schleswig.

Creston/O-M is one of the teams to watch in 3A again, posting the best score among 3A sectionals Friday. Although course conditions varied, the Panthers were the best by nine strokes, with West Delaware the closest at 299.

Other sectional leaders were Centerville 303, Decorah 309, Gilbert 307, Mount Vernon 312 and Norwalk 315.

“We showed the state what we are made of today,” Groumoutis said. “This is a big confidence boost for the team and we will be ready to do it again at disticts.”

Hartsock said the team’s balance was on display, and it can still be better.

“We were all due for a good round and I think we showed the state what we can do with four good scores,” Hartsock said. “We haven’t peaked yet.”

Hoepker, finishing second, is one of those showing improvement at the right time.

“I hadn’t been playing well the last two tournaments and this was a great confidence boost for me and the team,” Hoepker said. “There’s only room for improvement.”

Class 3A District

Team scoring (top two advance to district) — 1. Creston/O-M 290; 2. ADM 311; 3. Carroll 314; 4. Atlantic 317; 5. Harlan 323; 6. Glenwood 341; 7. Perry 355; 9. Greene County 451.

Individual district qualifiers — Christian Groumoutis, Creston/O-M, 71. Runner-up — Coleton Hoepker, Creston/O-M 72. 3. Zac Riddell, Carroll, 72. 4. Sam Hartsock, Creston/O-M, 73.

Creston/O-M (290) — Christian Groumoutis, 71; Coleton Hoepker, 72; Sam Hartsock, 73; Kyle Somers, 74; Jaaron Kautz, 82; Gavin Sickels, 86.