Williamsburg advances to fifth straight district

MARION - The margin of error in golf is very slim.

One stroke made a difference for teams and individuals Friday at Gardner Golf Course.

Williamsburg's Zach Buch made a putt from about eight feet on the last hole, securing medalist honors and helping the Raiders claim the team title by one shot each at the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A sectional golf meet. Buch carded a 3-over 75 and Williamsburg finished with 318, edging DeWitt Central.

Buch was more pleased with the team achievement. The Raiders earned a fifth straight district berth, looking to extend its state meet streak to five as well.

'It's cool to get there on my own but to have all the guys going too is awesome,” Buch said. 'It's more fun as a team.”

After a solid drive down the left of the 18th fairway, Buch's approach was right of the green. He chipped into position for the par putt that broke slightly right.

'It was a tougher putt,” Buch said. 'I rolled it up there and it dropped.

'Once I hit it I knew. You have to be confident with your stroke and everything will turn out all right.”

Buch had a pretty good grasp of the individual standings, playing with Solon's runner-up medalist Jared Capouch, who shot 76 and won a tiebreaker with DeWitt Central's Trevor Green. He avoided a three-way battle for first.

'In the middle of the fairway he said I think par will win it,” Williamsburg Coach Brad Schaefer said. 'He knew where he was at. He still had to get up and down.”

Buch received a boost from an eagle on the par-5 No. 2 hole and a birdie on the par-3 14th. He finished with three pars in the final four holes, carding 37 on the challenging back nine,

'I played fine,” Buch said. 'There were shots I left out there like a water ball on No. 5 and some birdie putts I left short (but) 75 was good enough for today.”

The Raiders benefitted from a strong team effort. Jackson Subbert placed fourth individually, shooting 77 with one birdie. For the second straight sectional, Subbert and Buch had Williamsburg's top scores.

'It was Jackson's lowest 18-holescore (this year),” Schaefer said. 'It was nice for him.”

Schaefer also praised senior Alex Phillips and freshmen duo Sam Buch and Isaac Knock, shooting 83 apiece to comprise Williamsburg's final two scores. He said he was proud of how the entire team competed.

'The guys knew the course well,” Schaefer said. 'They knew every stroke would count.

'This team is so deep. Any of the six can score.”

Capouch was the lone individual to advance to the district meet. The Spartans' senior missed the district cut by two strokes the last two years. He made the most of his last shot, opening the postseason strong after a slow start to the regular season.

'It was fun,” Capouch said. 'I'm glad I finally came out and played decent.”

He carded a pair of birdies on the front for a 1-over 37 and had seven pars on the back.

'My irons were key,” said Capouch, noting he's excited for the chance to reach state. 'I got to greens in regulation and had easy putts for par.”

Marion finished fourth as a team. Ian Kelly led the Indians with 81.

Williamsburg and DeWitt Central move on to the district meet May 23 at Stone Creek Golf Club in Williamsburg, starting at 10 a.m..

CLASS 3A SECTIONAL

At Gardner Golf Course

(par 72)

Teams -

1. Williamsburg* 318, 2. DeWitt Central* 319, 3. Solon 335, 4. Marion 338, 5. Washington (Iowa) 343, 6. Anamosa 349, 7. Clear Creek Amana 350, 8. Maquoketa 405.

District qualifiers -

1. Zach Buch (Will), 75, 2. Jared Capouch (S), 76*, 3. Trevor Green (DC), 76, 4. Jackson Subbert (Will), 77.

Marion (338): Ian Kelly 81, Jeremy Schnieders 82, John Carstensen 87, Jack Serbousek 88.

*-District qualifying teams

*-Won playoff.

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