Comet boys struggle in golf opener

High winds hamper efforts for inexperienced team

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Windy weather, inexperience and a talented opponent wasn’t the right mix for coach Nick Frenz debut as the new head golf coach for West Liberty High School’s boys team Monday in an opening River Valley Conference meet at West Liberty Golf & Country Club.

Although playing without one of the team’s better golfers, Ty Jones, the team struggled in their season opener against a talented West Branch team that has a returning state finalist, who even struggled with the gusts of wind.

West Branch won the meet 174 to 216, five of their six scores better than anything the Comets put forth, ranging from a top honors 42 from Gage Gingerich, who had the only birdie of the day on the Par 360 ninth hole, aided by the wind. He also pared three other holes.

Will Bridges added a 43 for the Bears as he pared five holes after a disasterous triple-bogie eight on the opening hole. Dylan Cuntryman shot a 44 for the Bears while Brady Knoop turned in a 45, Logan Highly had a 46 and Kaleb Sexton had a 47 despite a 14 on the opening hole, where nearly everyone seemed to struggle in fighting the wind to get over the lake.

For the Comets, Colin Cassidy was the top golfer with a 47, paring the second and ninth holes and turning in four single bogies on the day for the nine-hole, par 36 course.

The next best score for the Comets was a 51 by Preston Daufeldt, who pared the seventh and ninth holes after opening with a triple-bogie. Haidyn McHugh had one par to finish with a 59 while Shane elder also had a 59 for West Liberty. Morgan Lehman finished at 64 while Jack Mahoney finished at 69 for the Comets.

The Comets travel to a multi-school tournament at Anamosa on Tuesday, April 6 beginning at 7:30 a.m. before going to Solon on April 9.

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