Raiders start slow in Gering

The Sidney Red Raiders golf team travelled to picturesque Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering on Thursday and finished fifth among the nine invited schools.

The Scottsbluff Bearcats won the event in a one-hole playoff over Cheyenne Central after each took 316 strokes. Gering (333) and Cheyenne South (349) also finished ahead of Sidney (351).

The top individual medal went to Jared Eden of Cheyenne Central, with a 71, which included a 33 on the back nine. He finished comfortably ahead of two players at 77. The top Raiders card was turned in by Brady Radcliffe, with an 85, and Connor Dormann finished two back at 87. The other Raiders varsity scores included Ryan Birner (89), Nate Dvorak (90) and Joab Olsen (98). Olsen was competing in his first varsity meet of the season.

The Sidney junior varsity finished third in Division II, with a 413, with Crawford (356) and Hay Springs (395) taking the first two places. Jeremy Lawler (91) and Jack Feddersen both medaled for the Raiders.

Many of the varsity Raiders struggled through their early holes, including Radcliffe and Dormann. Radcliffe went through a three-hole stretch where he posted three consecutive six's and then followed with a double-bogey five on the 7th hole. He rallied to post a 40 on his final nine.

"I need to get the bad holes out of the round," said Radcliffe. "I was hitting the ball fine but my accuracy was poor. I had some nice one putts which helped me."

Doorman, who is coming off two consecutive 80s in competition, also had a tough four-hole stretch. He opened his round par-bogey-double bogey-triple bogey. He too settled in and played better golf later in his round.

Dvorak, who has posted no round worse than 81 over his last four competitive rounds, struggled to his worst finish of the season. At Monument Shadows, he uncharacteristically shot 45s on both his nines.

On the par-5 12th hole, Dvorak went through an adventure he'd rather not have. He first hit his drive to the edge of a deep water hazard. Dvorak then elected to remove his shoes and socks and try to punch out rather than take an unplayable lie. He took three to get out.

"At the time I thought it was the right decision," Dvorak said. "The ball was propped up really well. I thought I would have a really tough shot over the trees if I went back. Unfortunately, the first shot put me in a bad position, and I decided to grind it out until I got it out of there."

The round Birner had was also an early struggle before he began to play well late in his round.

"I was just really bad at the beginning. I just didn't get myself in very good positions," Birner said. "I chipped and putted well today and played the last four or five holes well."

The Raiders have just two more meets before the district tournament at Hillside Golf Course on May 18. Sidney is at Cozad on Monday and Ogallala on Thursday. Both are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. local time.

GERING INVITATIONAL

@ Monument Shadows

(Par 36-36–72)

Team Scores

Scottsbluff 316

Cheyenne Central 316

Gering 333

Cheyenne South 349

Sidney 351

Alliance 367

Chadron 374

Cheyenne East 389

Laramie 391

Top-10 Individual Scores

1. Jared Eden Cheyenne Central 71

2. Brendon Cobb Cheyenne Central 77

3. Jonah Wright Scottsbluff 77

4. Bailey Hort Scottsbluff 79

5. Jared Pilkington Scottsbluff 79

6. Grant Maser Gering 79

7. Jayden Stack Chadron 79

8. Koy Pothoff Scottsbluff 81

9. Ryan Bellflower Laramie 81

10. Shade Frank Cheyenne South 82

Sidney High Scores

Brady Radcliffe 85

Connor Dormann 87

Ryan Birner 89

Nate Dvorak 90

Joab Olsen 98