OSKALOOSA — Herald photo by Jim Gries
The Oskaloosa boys golf team captured its first Little Hawkeye Conference title since 2002 Monday at Edmundson Golf Course. The Indians edged Pellla by a single stroke, 312-313. Pictured from left are, Payton Curtis, Gibb Whitlatch, Mitch Tucker, Alex Heaton, Tyler Smith and Mike Van Englehoven.
It’s been quite a while since the Oskaloosa boys golf team won a conference title.
Until Monday.
The Indians captured the Little Hawkeye Conference title at Edmundson Golf Course by a single shot over rival Pella, and in the process, placed three golfers on the all-conference team.
Oskaloosa shot a 312 to win the LHC crown for the first time since 2002 while the Little Dutch came in with a 313 total.
Needless to say, the Indians were thrilled over the conference championship.
“Outstanding, it feels great,” Oskaloosa coach Rob Campbell said. “The boys worked hard this year. They got back to the way they were competing during fall golf and they turned it on at the right time. Today was a great day to shoot a 312.”
Mitch Tucker took medalist honors with an even-par 70 while Tyler Smith carded a 76 and Alex Heaton picked up the other all-conference laurel with an 80.
Tucker might have shot even better if not for a little tree trouble on the par-5 ninth as he finished with a bogey.
“I played well until 9 when I was stuck under a tree on top of a little branch,” he said. “I ended with a bogey then I had just two bogeys and a birdie on the back. It feels pretty good so far (individual champion). I could have shot lower, but I missed a couple putts on the back.
“It’s awesome being conference champs. It’s going to be sweet and I’m proud of the team.”
The Indians’ lone senior player in the tournament was Mike Van Englehoven, who carded an 86 for the final score that counted for the team.
Van Englehoven said the struggles the team had his first couple of years makes this title all that sweeter.
“Winning, it feels pretty good because our team was bad my freshman and sophomore years,” he said. “We have a lot better players now so it’s really good because we can all shoot good.
“It feels really, really good to beat Pella especially because they beat us in a lot of sports and it’s a big rivalry.”
Little Hawkeye Conference Tournament
At Edmundson Golf Course
Par 70
Team standings — 1. Oskaloosa 312, 2. Pella 313, 3. Norwalk 324, 4. Boone 328, 5. Knoxville 332, 6. Grinnell 339, 7. Pella Christian 349, 9. South Tama 358.
All-Conference team — 1. Mitch Tucker, Oskaloosa, 70; 2. Clarke Hammes, Pella, 74; 3. Tyler Smith, Oskaloosa 76; 4. Lucas Boyd, Pella, 76; 5. Stephen Leeds, Boone, 78; 6. Taylor Musselman, Norwalk, 78; 7. Jake Mueler, Norwalk, 79; 8. Alex Heaton, Oskaloosa, 80; 9. Conner Kelderman, Pella, 81; 10. Tyler Christowski, Norwalk, 81; 11. Andy VanderBroek, Pella, 82; 12. Lance Johnson, Boone, 82; 13. Jake Mawe, Grinnell, 82; 14. Tyler Walters, Knoxville, 82; 15. Derek Fox, Pella Christian, 82; 16. John Early, Pella Christian, 82.
Area team results
Oskaloosa — Tucker 70, Smith 76, Heaton 80, Mike Van Englehoven 86, Gibb Whitlatch 88, Payton Curtis 90.
Pella — Hammes 74, Boyd 76, Kelderman 81, VanderBorek 82, Ben Fessler 85, Ramin Amburgy 86.
Pella Christian — Fox 82, Early 82, Tyler Vermeer 92, Drew Struvers 93, Jake Nikkel 102, Brennon Veenstra 106.
Sports
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