Creek Valley earns trip to Kearney

Led by event runner-up Lane Godfrey, the Creek Valley Storm qualified as a team for the 2014 NSAA Boys State Golf Championships. A third-place finish at the District D-5 Tournament at Oregon Trail Park Golf Course in Sutherland on Monday ensured that all four from the squad will be on their way to Kearney next week.

Godfrey finished three strokes behind Crawford's Colton Micheel for the top spot with his 83. The Storm's only other senior, Cory Phillips, also put in a good day with a 98.

The two freshmen, Brett Godfrey (109) and Joe VanWinkle (113), weren't at their best, but it was more than enough.

Mullen earned the title of District Champion with a 378 while Sandhills-Thetford wound up four back at 382.

The Storm edged out North Platte St. Patricks for the final qualifying spot 403-408.

"They're all really exited to be going to state," said Creek Valley Coach Cyd Hanson. "This should be a great experience, especially for the freshmen."

Lane Godfrey has already been to state on two other occasions. He was part of the group that went as a team in his freshman year. Last season he qualified as an individual. Phillips also traveled with the team to state when he was a freshman.

Though he easily qualified as an individual, Godfrey's round started off a little shaky. He doubled the par-5 opening hole after finding a tough lie that resulted from a pushed tee shot. On the second hole, a par-3, he hit the green with his drive but three putted. He then began to gain more consistency and went out in 43.

Godfrey avoided the big numbers on the second nine and came in with a 40.

"Three double bogies didn't help me any," said Godfrey. "My ball striking, my short game and most everything else was pretty good most of the day, but I struggled with my putting."

While Godfrey is a veteran of state, he will have a new course to try and solve this time around. In 2013 the tournament was held at the Meadowlark Golf Course in Kearney. This year it has been moved across town to the Kearney Country Club.

At state the players will go off with tee times on the front and back nine. The two-day tournament begins on May 28, with round two on the following day.

On Wednesday Van Winkle (9:50 a.m.), Brett Godfrey (10 a.m.) and Phillips (10:30 a.m.) will all start off the 10th tee. Lane Godfrey will tee off on No. 1 at 11 a.m. All times are CDT.

The players will be reseeded on Thursday based on first-day scores.

Coach Hanson is already working on plans to take the team to Kearney a day early for a practice round.

"It's a different kind of an atmosphere at state," said Godfrey. "We're all going to have a lot of fun."

Team scores

1. Mullen 378

2. Sandhills-Thetford 382

3. Creek Valley 403

4. North Platte St. Pats 408

5. Sutherland 423

6. Hyannis 429

7. Morrill 436

8. Hemmingford 440

9. Hay Springs 446

10. Paxton 449

11. Crawford 450

12. South Platte 468

13. Garden County 502

TOP TEN INDIVIDUAL

1. Colton Micheel, Crawford 80

2. Lane Godfrey, Creek Valley 83

3. Nathaniel Beattie, NPSP 88

4. Jacey Nutter, Sandhills 88

5. John Opela, Mullen 88

6. Jake Jones, NPSP 90

7. Brook Blomstedt, Sutherland 91

8. Tanner Holthus, Hyannis 91

9. Drew Letcher, Hay Springs 93

10. Jacob Horstman, Hemingford 94

CREEK VALLEY SCORES

Lane Godfrey 83

Cory Phillips 98

Brett Godfrey 109

Joe Van Winkle 113