Worley, Cougars have state title hopes

No matter what happens this weekend, Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior Dane Worley has had a memorable season.But, if the top-ranked Cougars and Worley, the top-ranked individual in Class 4A, claim a little gold this weekend at the state golf tournament, the year would be unforgettable."We've had a solid year," Worley said. "Obviously, we want to win state, but no matter what happens it will be a year to remember for me."Kennedy will look to improve on last year's fourth-place finish as Worley tries to contend for a state individual title after placing third a year ago at the 4A state meet Friday and Saturday at The Harvester Golf Club in Rhodes. Competition begins at noon Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.The Cougars enter the final, and most important, event with an 87-1 record. Kennedy has qualified for state each of the last four years, placing in third in 2008. Worley leads the way, averaging a little more than 36 strokes per nine holes. The senior said he is happy with reaching state again and the team has its best chance at a title."I've made it to state all four years, which is a huge accomplishment," Worley said. "This is definitely the year, I think, we have the best shot to do it. Our guys are definitely a lot more mature than last year. They understand their games a lot better."Kennedy has been dominant all season, despite winning a third straight district crown Tuesday at Ellis by nine strokes. Juniors Cody Bell and Brigham Stewart tied for fourth in the qualifier and are second and third in 9-hole average at about 38.5 and 38.8, respectively. Junior Mitchell Martin averages about 39.8. Harrison Moore and senior Dan Wasta both average about 40 strokes per nine and competed at districts with Wasta carding the Cougars' fourth score.West Des Moines Dowling will look to defend its crown. The Cougars will attempt to win their first title since 1990 and the program's fourth top-two finish and first since 2001. They know nothing will be easy this weekend and they need to improve on how they got here."We played good but we know we still have a lot to improve on because there are a lot of good teams out there," Bell said. "They're going to bring their A-Game to state just like we will."Iowa City High will just get to bring its game to state for the first time in more than a decade. The Little Hawks qualified by placing second to Pleasant valley at Palmer Hills Golf Course in Bettendorf."First of all, we're very, very pleased," City High Coach Gregg Andrews said. "It's one of our goals every year. We did it in kind of an unusual way."Specifically, they did it without counting on their top golfer and two-time state qualifier Ryan Maske, who placed in the top 10 at state two years ago as a sophomore. Maske struggled but the team rallied around their leader to claim a berth by an impressive seven strokes.Sophomore Grant Simpson was third overall with a 72, while classmate Nate Goodard tied for fourth with a 75. Junior Ryan Duncan shot 78 and Griffin Hasler added a 79, making their coach proud of the performance."They all decided they would pick (Maske) up and that's exactly what they did," Andrews said. "In the years that I've been coaching, I've seen a lot of things. When you see something like this, where kids pick each other up and try to make something special happen, that was very gratifying."The team has grown from a young freshman-dominated team a year ago. They were 58-23 in competition this year and have been playing well lately. Andrews said his team is excited for the chance to play at state."What we really want to do is continue to improve," Andrews said. "We're going to go and do our very best. If we do that I'll be a very happy man."Cedar Rapids Prairie's Ian Tucker also claimed a berth at the district at Palmer Hills. Tucker tied for fourth with a 75 to advance to the individual competition this weekend.Western Dubuque moved up to 4A this fall and captured the third qualifying spot at the Ellis Golf Course led by Logan Bahl's 73 and Jordan Azbell's 77. The Bobcats have qualified for the state meet in three of the last four years, reaching the 3A meet in the spring of 2008 and 2009.