Cedar Rapids Kennedy repeats in CRANDIC boys’ golf meet

Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Mike Green said he knew his golfers could play well.

He even shared with them the score they needed to be in contention to win any contest.

Not only did the Cougars prove their coach right, but they hit that number right on the dot. Kennedy fired a 310 to claim its second straight team title at the annual CRANDIC boys’ golf meet. Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Ryan Schmit shot 1-over 73 for medalist honors, edging the Cougars’ Reid Hall and Iowa City Liberty’s J.J. Grimm by a stroke.

The Cougars posted their best score and biggest victory of the season.

“It’s a good win for the guys,” Green said. “They played really well. Hopefully, that gives them confidence that we can do this.

“I’ve been preaching all year to get around 310 and you’re going to have a chance to win any big tournament you’re in.”

Hall, the returning Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Player of the Year, powered Kennedy again. The two-time state qualifier carded 16 pars, including each hole on the front nine. The low score was accompanied by three solid supporting rounds.

Leo Koester shot 77, while Brody Gilkison added 78. Both joined Hall in the top 10. Daylen Davis rounded out the scoring with 81. All six shot 89 or better for a third straight top-two finish and second win in the last three meets.

“Some of the guys have been fluctuating up and down,” Green said. “To have Leo shoot 77 was a big bonus for us. He’s fully capable of doing that on a consistent basis. … He’s doing a great job. He’s finally starting to find his way as a freshman.

“Daylen Davis is getting better and better all the time as well.”

Green said Koester made some key par putts, which helped Kennedy overcome runner-up Linn-Mar by four and third-place Xavier by six. Putting was a key for the whole team. Young players managed consistency, compartmentalizing each shot.

“Making putts like that gives guys momentum and confidence that they can do this,” Green said. “It’s nice. Some guys sprayed it around but they figured out how to score and that is a good thing for us.”

Schmit made three birdies on the front, going out with a 1-under 35. He finished with four overall. Individual gold is another accomplishment in a rebound season for the senior.

“Last year didn’t go as well as I wanted it to,” Schmit said. “I worked really hard this summer in hopes of having a good season and so far it has paid off. I really want to keep it going until state.”

Interestingly, Schmit has recorded the best round in previous meets. This is the first time, however, he stood atop the leaderboard alone.

“It feels really good, because I’ve had two meets where I tied for first,” Schmit said. “It was great to come out as outright medalist, finally.”

Schmit shared a strength with Kennedy. His work on the green propelled him past the field. He made his putts inside 8 feet and a couple 10- to 12-footers, including one to secure a birdie on the par-5 No. 9 hole.

“Definitely, putting was key,” Schmit said. “I struggled off the tee, but I was able to get it around the greens and made the putts I needed to make.”

CRANDIC MEET

At Ellis Golf Course

(Par 72)

Teams – 1. C.R. Kennedy 310, 2. Linn-Mar 314, 3. C.R. Xavier 316, 4. Iowa City Liberty 317*, 5. C.R. Prairie 317, 6. C.R. Jefferson 320, 7. Iowa City West 321, 8. C.R. Washington 325, 9. Iowa City High 328

Individuals – 1. Ryan Schmit (CRX), 73, 2. (tie) Reid Hall (CRK) and J.J. Grimm (ICL), 74, 4. (tie) Tanner Wachtl (CRP) and Caden Postma (LM), 75

KENNEDY (310): Hall 74, Leo Koester 77, Brody Gilkison 78, Daylen Davis 81

LINN-MAR (314): Postma 75, Matt Buse 78, Christian Cloyd 79, Carter Bond 82, Alex Johnson 82

XAVIER (316): Schmit 73, Charlie Allen 80, Grant Allen 81, Garrett Nurre 82

I.C. LIBERTY (317): Grimm 74, Tate Brunk 79, Vaughn Tyler 79, Ryan Schmierer 85, Braden O’Connor 85

PRAIRIE (317): Wachtl 75, Payton Burns 79, Ashton Carmer 79, C.J. Keenan 84

JEFFERSON (320): Logan Miller 77, Jacob Strain 80, Logan Augustine 81, Landon Augustine 82

I.C. WEST (321): Dillon Croco 76, Cole Collier 80, Jack MacLagan 82, Owen Larson 83, Landon Peoples 83

WASHINGTON (325): Ben Blocklinger 78, Preston Haefner 81, Luke Toms 82, Bryce Brim 84

CITY HIGH (328): Jake Mitchell 79, Zach Meredith 82, Jack Rogers 83, Nick Meredith 84

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