Kennedy’s Sutton posts impressive start

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Davis Sutton opened Mississippi Valley Conference play in the same manner he closed it last year.

He left his conference colleagues settling for second.

Sutton finished atop the MVC Mississippi Division last year, earning the Athlete of the Year award, and added MVC Super Meet medalist honors last week at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo.

Sutton carded a 7-under par 65, winning the individual title by four strokes. He expected to do well, but it was better than he anticipated.

'It was a little surprising,” said Sutton, who is fourth in the state with a 70.5 18-hole average said. 'You never go into a round expecting to shoot that low, but some times you just kind of feel it.”

He didn't realize how well he was shooting early into the round. He birdied the par-3 fourth hole, hit par and then an eagle on No. 6 brought everything to focus. He added consecutive birdies at Nos. 9 and 10.

'I got a few putts to go in,” Sutton said. 'All of a sudden I was putting down pretty low numbers.”

The Cougars rolled as a team, taking a massive 19-stroke lead over Linn-Mar into divisional play. Ross Grekoff (72), Cole Murdock (73) and Conner Koberg (74) also scored, giving Kennedy a 284, which was 18 strokes better than runner-up Cedar Rapids Xavier.

'The boys did a nice job today,” Kennedy Coach Mark Wilden said in an email to The Gazette. 'A very nice start to the season. We hope to continue to improve.”

Sutton would like to improve two straight sixth-place finishes at the state meet, but only if it means Kennedy betters its two consecutive state runner-up performances. The team results matter most to Sutton.

'I play better when I playing for a team,” he said. 'I just try to go as low as I can to help out the team.

'Winning as a team with the other five seniors, all the seniors, is really the most important thing for me, right now.”

The Super Meet was a good warm-up, but tougher competition came at the Linn-Mar Invitational on Monday at Hunters Ridge. The Cougars posted a solid 306, but state contender Waukee claimed the team title by a stroke.

'Hunters was a little frustrating,” Sutton said. 'Honestly, it's almost better that we finish one back, because it just makes us more hungry to beat them the next time we play them.”

Kennedy leads the state with a 295 18-hole team average, leading Marshalltown by two strokes. The Cougars resume play at a tournament Wednesday, Aug. 27 at Jester Park Golf Course in Granger.

Experience helps West

Iowa City West returned the majority of its starting lineup from last year. The Trojans have benefitted from the experience on its roster.

Among the key players back for West are senior Noah Federici, junior J.D. Goodfellow, Grant Higgins, Kyle Jenkins and Chris Mellinger. Federici, a second-team MVC Mississippi golfer last year, and Goodfellow, who shot even-par 72 as runner-up medalist Tuesday, lead the way.

'They are the captains of the team,” West Coach Don Bristow said. 'We have good leadership. We have good days and bad days, but right now they are having good days.”

West tied for fifth in the MVC Super Meet last week, posting the thirdd-best MVC Mississippi Division team score. The Trojans were also fifth at a tournament in Muscatine before tying for sixth in their own tournament Tuesday at Blue top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside.

'It's a good start,” Bristow said.

Bristow said the sky is the limit for the Trojans, as a team and individuals. The start is a product of their dedication during the off-season. Improvement comes from spring and summer play.

'J.D. and Noah will play until the snow flies,” Bristow said. 'The kids really work hard at their games.”

Locla competition heats up

Local competition promises to be tight, following the first few meets of the season.

Despite Kennedy being a heavy favorite in the area, other teams are in for a battle.

Xavier will take a three-stroke lead over Cedar Rapids Washington into the first of two MVC Mississippi divisional meets, shooting 302 in the MVC Super Meet. In the MVC Valley, Linn-Mar (303), Iowa City West and Dubuque Wahlert are all within five shots of each other for second behind the Cougars.

'It's going to be a very interesting and competitive year,” Washington Coach Dennis Goettel said. 'I think we've seen all the best teams in the state already. We know what we have to do.”

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