Golf community rallies around Clear Lake coach

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy boy's golf team are pitching in, instead of chipping and putting.

The Cougars found a way to score some impressive rounds, despite not being in season.

Families of the Kennedy boys golf team pooled their money and donated 18-hole rounds to help raise funds for the family of Clear Lake golf coach Eric Perry, who suffered a brain injury in a fall during a vacation in Mexico.

The Cougars paid for 14 total rounds of golf with cart to be auctioned off to help cover medical and living expenses for the Perry family.

"Our kids and parents are never satisfied to do the bare minimum," Kennedy Coach Mark Wilden said. "They went above and beyond."

Perry, a longtime coach who led Clear Lake to state titles from 2004-06 and in 2011, fell March 10, hitting his head on the ground. The impact fractured his skull and a burst artery. After an evaluation by a local medical staff, Perry was flown to San Antonio to be examined by a neurologist.

 He underwent a craniotomy, a procedure where part of the skull is removed to access the brain, and remains in Texas for rehabilitation.

"We just wanted to help," Wilden said. "The kids and the parents never met him. They just knew it was someone having a hard time."

With mounting expenses, the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association decided to rally the community. The auction, featuring golf, sports and miscellaneous items, will run from May 1 to the first week of June.

A fundraiser golf outing  will be held June 12 at Veenker Golf Course in Ames, beginning at 8 a.m. The cost is $50 per player, including cart, with a portion of the money going to the Perry family. The IHSGCA will also donate an extra $10  per golfer at the charity event.

IHSGCA member and Iowa City High Coach Jerry Hora contacted Wilden about finding donations. Roadblocks arose and golfers' families took matters into their own hands.

They donated 12 rounds to Cedar Rapids Municipal golf courses and two rounds at Wildcat Golf Course in Shellsburg.

"We got a response right away," Wilden said. "It felt good. They're all good people."More information about fundraising efforts and a link to the auction can be found online at www.iahsgca.org.

Decorah atop 3A rankings

The Decorah boys' golf team is ranked first in the initial adjusted rankings by the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association. The Vikings own an adjusted team score of 157.15, which is figured by the team score and course rating. Decorah's Bryce Pierce (37.66) and Sam Sacquitne (38.16) are third and fifth in the 3A individual rankings.Cedar Rapids Xavier girls' golf team is first in the Class 4A team rankings with a 186.90 average. Seniors Maddie Bertsch (43.02) and Grace Winker (44.22) are third and fifth, individually.In Class 5A, Linn-Mar's Teresa Lopez Moreno (42.0) and Iowa City High's Sarah Overton (42.37) are third and fourth in reported individual rankings.South Tama state champion Paige Van Dyk and Dyersville Beckman Brooke Klostermann hold the top two spots in the 3A individual rankings. Van Dyk has a class-best 39.43 adjusted score.Cascade's Katie Coyle (43.73) is third in 3A.

Hogan goes low

Iowa City Regina's Grant Hogan owns the lowest recorded nine-hole round in the Gazette area so far this spring. He posted a 34 in meet in April.Hogan has averaged 37 strokes in four rounds. In two 18-hole rounds, he has shot an average of 80.5. He is currently seventh in Class 2A in adjusted rankings by the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association.