McCook golfers open state defense with North Platte title

NORTH PLATTE -- The McCook Bison boys golf team opened defense of their Nebraska Class B state title with a first-place finish at the North Platte Invitational Friday.

McCook posted a 315 score, edging out Kearney by five strokes.

North Platte and Grand Island Central Catholic tied for third at 323, followed by Broken Bow 333, Lexington 337, Gering 339, Scottsbluff 341, Gothenburg 351, North Platte JV 357, Ogallala 364, Grand Island 365 and Hastings 376.

McCook's Tyler Lawson, the defending state champion, and Kearney's Ben Porter led the individual field with 73s. Porter needed a five-hole playoff to beat Lawson for individual medalist honors.

McCook's Brandon Crick, who placed second at state last year, fired a 76 for third place.

Bob Gaulke just missed a medal by one stroke with an 81. Brett Chmiel fired an 85, followed by Kelly Maiden's 89.

Lexington's Nate Jaeger and North Platte's Mitch Smith placed fourth and fifth with 77s, followed by GICC's Scott Wissing with a 78.

Four players shot 80s -- North Platte's Chad Knoedler, GICC's Ben Hanssen, Kearney's Blake Sloan and Gering's Joe Sloan.

"We started off pretty well on the day, but then the winds picked up," said McCook boys golf coach Ron Coleman. "The high numbers on the front nine had to do with the course and weather change."

The Bison will compete at the Grand Island Invitational at 9:30 a.m. Friday.