Cougars, Worley earn runner-up finish at state golf

RHODES – The Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys' golf team's state tournament experience didn't have the golden shine that they had hoped for but the Cougars will settle for a silver sparkle.The Cougars and senior Dane Worley entered the Class 4A state meet with team and individual title hopes and both claimed state runner-up honors Saturday at The Harvester Golf Club. The Cougars shot 619, finishing 13 shots back of Waukee, and Worley shot 77 for a two-round score of 149, placing five shots back of champion Collin Foster of Waukee.The Cougars shot 309 in the final round, edging West Des Moines Dowling by one for second, but couldn't catch Waukee, which scored consecutive rounds of 303. It was the program's fourth state runner-up finish and first since 2001.“We wanted to win the championship but we can't complain about finishing second,” Kennedy Coach Mark Wilden said. “The kids really fought hard.”

That fight and mental toughness allowed the Cougars to hold on to second place. Worley and Cody Bell, who placed fourth overall with 74-77-151, reached the turn at 4-over par, and Brigham Stewart was out at 3-over. All three buckled down and shot 1-over 37 on the back.“They really fought hard on the backside to try to get us back in this thing,” Wilden said.Every single shot kept Kennedy from sliding into third. They displayed resiliency when Worley drained a 6-foot birdie, Stewart made a birdie from 15-feet, and Mitchell Martin, who posted a 79 for the team's fourth score, made a difficult par to close out their rounds.“It tells me a lot about our guys, a lot of character to be able to finish that way,” Worley said. “We ended up getting second by one shot. Any of those putts did it for us.”Stewart posted the Cougars' lowest second-round score with a 76, tying for 12th with a 156. He was able to shoot well to start and end each hole.“I was putting well (Saturday),” Stewart said. “I didn't miss many fairways.”Worley became the first Kennedy individual runner-up since Mark Hanson in 1990. It was his fourth state appearance, placing third last year and tying for 21st as a sophomore. Worley said he wanted to go out with a bang, winning a state crown, but second place isn't a disappointment.“I'm definitely pleased with my game,” Worley said. “Second place is a great honor.”Worley struggled with putting at The Harvester. The stroke was solid but the greens and maybe even the wind played a part on some misses.“The wind might have been a little bit of a factor,” Worley said. “the greens were so fast and so many subtle breaks thta you have to trust and hit it. I hit my lines and unfortunately they burned the edges and lipped out all day.”Worley suffered a pair of double-bogeys on No. 4 and No. 8, which included a shot that hit the cart path and bounced a foot out of bounds. He kept his head and said he kept “grinding” through the bad bounces in the round.“I've been in that situation a few times before, unfortunately,” Worley said. “When you're in that situation like that you're thinking about your team at that point, thinking what can I do to contribute.”Worley said he's proud of this team and he has had a fun and memorable year.“I couldn't b e more happy for the guys on our team,” Worley said. “All year they've played their hearts out.”Western Dubuque jumped from 4A this school year, playing in 3A last spring. The Bobcats reached the state meet, making their third state appearance in four years. They placed fifth, shooting 640 and tying Johnston with the fourth-best score but losing a tiebreaker on best fifth score.Western Dubuque senior Jordan Azbell capped his high school career with a third straight top-10 finish in four state meet appearances. Azbell shot 78 after opening with a 75 for a two-day total of 153 to tie for seventh.“I'm proud of my career,” Azbell said. “I'm just really glad I finished on a high note.”Azbell has had success at The Harvester for state competition, placing fifth in the 3A state meet here in may and tied for ninth in the 2009 state meet as a sophomore. The wide fairways and fast greens play to Azbell's strengths.“I love this course,” Azbell said. “I just love the greens and the way they roll so smooth. It's my dream course.”Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Ian Tucker became the Hawks' first boys state golf meet participant since Mason Linn in 2004. Tucker finished tied for 12th, shooting 75 for an overall score of 156. Only four other golfers scored better than Tucker did Saturday, rebounding from a rough stretch in the middle of Friday's first round that ended with an 81.“I struck the ball a lot better (Saturday),” Tucker said. “I sunk a lot of deep putts,”. I think I made two or three 20-footers. That sure helped.“It was a good way to go out, with a good round.”Iowa City High qualifiied as a team for the first time since 1997. The Little Hawks placed 11th with a 670. Sophomore Nate Goddard led City High with 84-81-165.