Belle Plaine continues success as postseason starts

BELLE PLAINE - Call it a pleasant surprise.

When longtime Belle Plaine boys golf coach returned to lead the Plainesmen, replacing last year's coach Brad Allen who moved to Pennsylvania, he was not expecting a strong start.

Belle Plaine lost two of its top three golfers to graduation from last season's state team, but has been perfect this season, owning the top spot in the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association Class 1A boys' team rankings. The Plainesmen will host a 1A sectional meet at Belle Plaine Country Club today as the postseason begins for 1A, 2A and 3A. “We're kind of surprised we're in the situation we're in this year,” Lamaak said. “We lost two of our top three golfers. I thought maybe we'd struggle a little bit to start the season and get progressively better and hope to be competitive at the end of the season.”

The time the Plainesmen devoted in the off-season allowed them to continue their success.

“Our kids played during the summer,” Lamaak said. “We've got good support in the community and the kids play the game the right way. They use their routines and I think it helps.”

It helps to have depth. Belle Plaine did return four with state meet experience, including Logan Baburek, Caleb Parr, Ryan Zumbach and Austin Brown. Baburek leads the team with a 39.5 nine-hole average and the team's next six golfers are within four strokes per nine holes.

“We've used seven kids and rotated them through almost all season long,” said Lamaak, who stresses his players practice with the same approach and concentration as they show in competition. “It makes for a lot of competition, especially when you get to the four, five six and seven golfers.

Baburek has developed into a senior leader for the Plainesmen, doing what the coaches ask and then trying to pass it on to underclassmen. Lamaak said colleges are interested in Baburek.

“He has a real passion for golf,” Lamaak said. “He probably has his best rounds in him yet to come.”

Lamaak said Parr could provide a boost for the team after missing the last couple weeks. He also said Blake St. John, Zumbach and Brown could make a big impact. The goal is shooting 150.

“We have the capability of three or four of our guys shooting in the 30s,” Lamaak said. “Usually, the team that wins is that team that manages the course the best.”

Lamaak has witnessed some good Plainesmen field strong teams in the past. Some of them have had more talent, including scorers who could shoot 35 to 37, but this team has potential.

“I still think we can have a pretty effective team and do quite well if we manage the course the proper way,” said Lamaak, who led the Plainesmen to the 2A state team title. “Be consistent and if we can group out scores, four or five guys in there 39-40, we'd be pretty tough to beat. That's what we have to shoot for.”

English Valleys, GMG, HLV, IMS, Iowa Valley, Meskwaki Settlement and Tri-County complete the field.

The top two teams and top four individuals in each sectional advance to next Friday's district.