Cougars continue success on the golf course

CEDAR RAPIDS - As the present fall sports season progresses the more it resembles those of the recent past on the golf course.The Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys' golf team has continued its winning ways for the 2010 Class 4A season, posting a 36-1 record in competition this season before Thursday night's meet at Galena (Ill.).The Cougars most recent win was a dominant 23-stroke win at Iowa City's Finkbine Golf Course to capture its fourth straight CRANDIC meet title on Tuesday. Kennedy won the meet, carding a score of 310. Four Cougars placed in the top seven individuals, battling a difficult wind and course."You're just trying to do the best you can," Kennedy Coach Mark Wilden said. "We just kept it together better than the other teams did."Senior leader Dane Worley claimed CRANDIC medalist honors for the third time. Worley won with a 74, two shots ahead of teammate Cody Bell. Brigham Stewart and Mitchell Martin tied for sixth, each scoring 80. Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Eric Lehmkuhl was third with 77 and Cedar Rapids Xavier's J.P. King and Grant Simpson of runner-up Iowa City High tied for fourth with 79.Winning the CRANDIC a fourth straight year is one of the team's main goals, along with winning conference and postseason competitions, but Worley's goal of four individual CRANDIC titles was denied last year, but one last one and a team sweep would suffice."I got three of those," Worley said about CRANDIC medalist honors. "To win as a team all four years was special to me and other guys on the team, too."The program has been simply special in general. The Cougars have reached the state meet in six times since 2000, placing fourth in 2009 and third in 2008. They also own a streak of two straight district titles. Worley said the team has the capability to continue or surpass the previous years."Our team this year has a lot of potential," Worley said. "This year alot of our guys have gotten a lot better."What they haven't been able to accomplish might provide the most motivation. The Cougars have been contenders but haven't claimed a state title. It's a reminder there is work left to do."It kind of fuels the fire a little more," said Worley, who is looking for an individual state crown after placing third last year. "We all need to get better to win the state title."Worley leads the team with an impressive 36.33 nine-hole average through six rounds. The top six which includes Stewart (39.0), Jonathan Chadick (40.2), Martin (40.33) and Bell (41.0) all average 41 per nine or better through six rounds. Senior Dan Wasta averages 38.33 strokes a round in his first three of the season.Some of the toughest competition they face is from their teammates trying to push into the top six. Wilden said his top 10 to 12 players are all capable of being in the top six. At a recent junior varsity meet, Kennedy shot 2-under par at Airport National, proving his claim. Depth has played a part in Kennedy's strong tradition."They all aspire to be in those top six spots," Wilden said. "As a coach you feel bad because you can't play every single one of them every meet."They know when they're in one of those spots that they do need to perform. They're not just representing themselves or the team they're representing other guys that could be playing in those spots. So everybody wants them to play well."Experience is a key factor to Kennedy's success, playing many tournaments during the summer in addition to varsity competitions over the years. It provides a boost to their confidence on the course."All of our guys on the team had a lot of tournament golf experience, including myself," Worley said. "We've all played a lot of tournament golf over the summer and all have experience on the national level. We all feel we should be able to compete with the best."The Cougars also have a tough mindset to go along with that experience. That toughness was displayed Tuesday when wind affected the CRANDIC meet."I think we're a mentally tough team," Wilden said. "Even if the elements aren't in their favor they don't let it bother them. That's a great asset to have."That toughness was tested after suffering the team's only blemish last week to Cedar Falls in a triangular. The Cougars have bounced back and are focused on the remaining challenges."It's given us a little more motivation to play out the year a little bit stronger," Wilden said. "I think we're going to get stronger as the year winds down."