Washington moves closer to second straight division title

Cedar Rapids Washington went two decades without a conference golf title.

Now, the Warriors have moved closer to securing two in a row.

Washington shot 305 to win the first of two Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division rounds Monday at The Meadows Golf Course in Asbury. The Warriors will take a 21 stroke lead over Cedar Rapids Xavier (600-621) into the last divisional meet Sept. 28 at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo.

Conference titles are determined by total scores from the MVC Super Meet the Warriors won in August, and two divisional meets. Washington had four scorers place in the top five, hogging most of the top-11 spots. The Warriors' Joe Slattery tied Xavier's Mitch King with medalist honors, shooting 74. Frank Lindwall was third at 76, followed by Alex Slattery with 77. Connor Neighbors added 78, tying for fifth.

'We've been pretty lucky this year,” Washington co-head coach Chris James said about the deep lineup. 'Our sixth man had our best score.”

The Warriors, who earned a CRANDIC title as well, won the divisional title last year for the first time since 1994. Unfortunately, they missed a trip to the state meet. A conference crown would be important, but work and bigger feats remain.

'We have higher goals,” James said. 'It's definitely one of the goals along the way. The guys would take pride in it.”

Washington ended another streak in 2013, reaching state for the first time in a decade. After missing in 2014, a divisional title would give them a mental boost heading into the postseason.

'They are coming along,” James said. 'I don't think our confidence has been higher. There are things we need to clean up in our last divisional, going into district and state.”

Xavier was second with a team score of 310. The Saints' Sam Martin tied for fifth with 78, as individuals vie for all-conference honors.

Goodfellow leads MVC Valley

Iowa City West senior J.D. Goodfellow maintains his lead in the individual standings of the MVC Valley Division, posting a total of 148 after the first of two divisional rounds Monday at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion.

Dubuque Wahlert's Alec Weber and Linn-Mar's Max Thrune shared medalist honors, firing 76. Linn-Mar's Jake Sevcik shot 78 to tie for third, helping the Lions earn a runner-up finish at 328, two shots back of Wahlert.

Wahlert has the team lead with a total of 637 and Linn-Mar (641) is second going into the third round Sept. 28 at The Meadows in Asbury.

Goodfellow tied for fifth with 79, but it was enough for a one-stroke lead through the first two rounds over Weber. Goodfellow, the medalist at the MVC Super Meet and CRANDIC event, is an all-conference performer, looking for his first state trip. He is focused on building for the postseason, which starts at West's home course.

'Just play a lot of golf at Finkbine,” Goodfellow said after the CRANDIC meet at Gardner Golf Course. 'Practice until I get to know the course better than I already do.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com