Xavier rebounds at CRANDIC

MARION - Cedar Rapids Xavier head coach Tim O'Brien's faith in his team proved to be well-founded.

Less than a week removed from finishing last at a quadrangular against Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Iowa City West at Airport National, the Saints' coach was confident about a quick rebound from that lackluster showing.

Against a bigger field, the Saints earned some redemption at the CRANDIC meet Tuesday at Hunters Ridge Golf Course. Xavier placed second to third-ranked Kennedy, which won its fifth straight CRANDIC team title. The Cougars posted a 321, two shots better than Xavier and Cedar Rapids Jefferson was third with 329.

Kennedy's Cody Bell was medalist, shooting a 4-over-par 76, topping Xavier's J.P. King by two. King's teammate Jason Beer and Jefferson's Eric Lehmkuhl tied for third with 79 on a challenging course that didn't allow many low rounds.

"I'm really proud of how they turned it around in a few days," O'Brien said. "I was really pleased with their efforts today."

 After one of their worst performances of the season, the Saints earned their best CRANDIC finish in O'Brien's five years as head coach. It was a little more indicative of a team in the top 10 of the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association rankings.

"I think we all needed to come out and have a little something to prove," King said. "I think we did that."

King's effort put him in contention to win, getting birdies on the par-5 No. 6, landing his second shot 10 yards short of the green and getting up-and-down, and par-4 No. 11. The sixth hole and saving par on No. 13 were highlights. Accuracy was the key for King.

"It was tough conditions out there. A lot of good pins really challenged your approach shots. I think that was the biggest difference," King said. "I hit the ball really well. I think that's what you had to do with the way the course was set up. If you weren't hitting it well it was going to be a tough day."

Beer and King led the Saints and Rob Thinnes' 81 and Matt Junge's 85 rounded out the scoring for Xavier, which had a razor-thin lead on Linn-Mar and seemed a distant third to Jefferson before the final three scores were posted, including Thinnes.

"My No. 1 and 2 player came through pretty strong and it was nice to have an 81 and 85 to throw in," O'Brien said. "Our depth did help today and I don't think we've played out best golf yet."

The Cougars still proved to be the best despite not playing theirs. Bell was the only Kennedy golfer to break 80, even though all four scores were 82 or better. The Cougars know improving on last year's Class 4A state runner-up finish demands more. They will work on that immediately.

"It's good, but we know we can't do this all year," Bell said. "We have to come out and compete every single meet. Not all of us are too pleased with our round, but we have practice tomorrow and we'll get back on the right track."

Senior Tyler Kalina scored 81 for Kennedy and Brigham Stewart and Harrison Moore each added an 82. Bell said Kalina has made a strong contribution this season, and knew Kalina was capable of scoring well.

"He's really played well," Bell said. "He's been able to put some rounds together that have really helped us get some victories."

Bell produced another solid round, but had to overcome a double bogey on the first hole before carding 38 on both the front and the back. He recorded three birdies, including one on the the par-3 14th hole, where Bell placed his tee shot in the center of the green a few feet from the cup and drained the putt.

It was an example of his accuracy. Bell hit most of the fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation.

"It was just a matter of getting in the groove early," Bell said. "I struggled the first hole but I was able to get in the groove after that. I rode that the rest of the way."

Teams - 1. C.R. Kennedy 321, 2. C.R. Xavier 323, 3. C.R. Jefferson 329, 4. Linn-Mar 330, 5. Iowa City High 340, 6. (tie) C.R. Prairie and Iowa City West 346, 8. C.R. Washington 355.

Individuals - 1. Cody Bell (CRK), 76, 2. J.P. King (CRX), 78, 3. (tie) Jason Beer (CRX) and Eric Lehmkuhl (CRJ), 79, 5. (tie) Ben Otis (CRJ), Tyler Kalina (CRK), Rob Thinnes (CRX), Tyler McCann (LM) and Kyle Hackett (LM), 81.

C.R. Kennedy (321): Bell 76, Kalina 81, Harrison Moore 82, Brigham Stewart 82.

C.R. Xavier (323): King 78, Beer 79, Thinnes 81, Matt Junge 85.

C.R. Jefferson (329): Lehmkuhl 79, Otis 81, Mitch Willems 82, Zach Denny 87.

Linn-Mar (330): McCann 81, Hackett 81, Trevor Berry 83, Clay Vieth 85.

Iowa City High (340): Grant Simpson 84, Trent Bedford 84, Ryan Duncan 86, Patrick Jordan 86.

C.R. Prairie (346): Colyn Snyder 82, Mitch Wagner 83, Matt Edl 88, Drew Digman 93.

Iowa City West (346): Drew Haas 86, Anthony Lehnertz 86, Dominic Muzzin 87, Tyler Whitehead 87.

C.R. Washington (355): Matt Strand 87, Austin Bergstrom 88, Dominic Rodriguez 90, Jon Landis 90.