Golf notes: Iowa City Liberty’s progress pays off with Muscatine tournament title

Iowa City Liberty Coach Brian Wernimont has noticed a shift in the five years the school has fielded a boys’ golf team.

At first, the program attracted athletes who would play golf, helping the new school fill a roster. Now, the lineup consists more of competitive golfers than participants in an activity.

The Lightning have improved and claimed the program’s first big tournament title, winning the Muscatine Invitational at Geneva Golf and Country Club earlier this season. Liberty has finished fifth or better in its three 18-hole events to start the season.

“It let the guys know they’re for real,” Wernimont said about the team title. “We can compete. That was a nice springboard. We feel like we can make some noise in the Mississippi Valley Conference and have our first legit shot at getting the team to state this year.”

The upperclassmen were part of a surge of competitive golfers who have made the Lightning better. They dedicated themselves to the sport, playing five to six days a week throughout the summer, which has created a strong bond and depth.

“We have some kids that are really working on their games,” Wernimont said. “They are starting to play more competitive golf outside of the high school team and it has shown.

“On any given day, the eight or nine top-10 kids on our team are out playing together. They’ve got to know each other really well. They push each other.”

Liberty is 16th in Class 4A in combined adjusted average, sitting at 160.97. The Lightning are fourth in the Gazette area behind No. 10 Cedar Rapids Prairie, No. 11 Cedar Rapids Xavier and Linn-Mar at 14th.

Junior J.J. Grimm leads the way with a 77.33 18-hole average and 39.20 combined adjusted score. Senior Tate Brunk is second at 79.67 and 40.37. Juniors Ryan Schmierer, Vaughn Tyler and Lucas Bartachek average 82 or better. Senior Braden O’Connor shot a low of 86.

Liberty held a qualifying round Wednesday to determine the lineup for Thursday’s conference quadrangular at Gardner Golf Course. Wernimont said up to 10 qualifiers could possibly earn a starting spot.

“The top six kids we’ve played, so far, on varsity, anyone can be the low guy,” Wernimont said. “It creates a nice dynamic.”

Tanner Wachtl wins Warrior Invite

Prairie junior Tanner Wachtl captured medalist honors at Cedar Rapids Washington’s Warrior Invitational last Thursday at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Galena, Ill. Wachtl fired a 2-under 70, topping Indianola’s Preston Billy, Dubuque Wahlert’s Ben Dolter and Cedar Falls’ Max Tjoa, who each shot 72.

“Tanner played amazing golf,” Prairie Coach Erik Columbus said. “He even had two lost balls, but I guess four birdies and an eagle helped ease the pain a little bit.”

The eagle came on the par-5 17th hole, helping him post his lowest round of the season. Wachtl played the three par-5 holes at 3-under par, coming in at 35 and going out at 35.

“I hit a decent drive down the right side of the fairway and stuck a pretty difficult shot over some trees from 180 (yards) to around 15 feet,” said Wachtl, who averages 73.67 per round with a 72.70 adjusted 18-hole average. “I made sure I got the putt to the hole and sank it.”

The victory provides a boost for the two-time state participant and all-Metro golfer. The round reassures him that he has the ability to compete, and defeat, the state’s best.

“The win gives me a lot more confidence going forward,” Wachtl said, “and gives myself the realization of how well I can play.”

Prairie placed third as a team with a 315, finishing eight shots back of champion Cedar Falls and four behind runner-up Indianola. The Hawks have top-three finishes in two of their first three meets, including the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet to open the season.

“We've played some solid golf so far,” Columbus said. “We're working hard in practice. Third place at the stacked Washington invitational was a good finish for us.

“Hopefully, good things keep rolling our way.”

Xavier Saints shine at Jester Park

In 16 seasons coaching Cedar Rapids Xavier, Tim O’Brien can’t recall a better performance in the Dragon Invitational at Jester Park Golf Course in Granger. The Saints head coach believes their runner-up finish and Ryan Schmit’s round of 68 Wednesday were team records for this event.

Xavier shot 293 to place second behind host Johnston, which won the 12-team event with 290. Schmit fired a 4-under to tie for the lowest round of the day, losing a card back for tiebreaker for runner-up medalist honors. Garrett Nurre was sixth overall with 72.

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