Sagers helps Saints to third straight divisional title

MARION - The years Cedar Rapids Xavier didn't contend for divisional titles seem more distant that the tee to the pin on a par-5 hole.Ben Sagers is part of a senior class that has kept the Saints atop of their half of the Mississippi Valley Conference.Sagers claimed medalist honors for the third and final round of MVC Valley Division play Monday  at Gardner Golf Course. He shot a 73, while classmate Matt Junge shot 76 to earn MVC Valley Player of the Year honors for the best overall score of 213, helping Xavier win its third consecutive divisional crown.Sagers, Junge and John Ingwersen were sophomores when the program notched its first title. Sagers recalled playing varsity half his freshman season and the team turning a corner the next year."We definitely had a better batch of kids that I ever known Xavier had," Sagers said. "It was cool to be led through the process and now I'm able to be able to lead some of the younger kids."The Saints have enjoyed the achievements, but want the baton to be passed."It's been fun," Sagers said. "Hopefully, we can leave a legacy to continue some of this success."Xavier Coach Tim O'Brien, named MVC Valley Coach of the Year, said he has had good senior leaders. The Saints own a scoring average a little more than 156 for nine holes. It is the best in his seven years as Xavier head coach."My captains - Sagers, Junge and Ingwersen - have done a good job leading and helping young players," O'Brien said. "I couldn't be more proud."Sagers, who edged Junge for MVC Valley Player of the Year honors by two strokes in 2012, fired a 1-under 35 on the front nine. He closed with a 2-over 38 on the tougher back nine that was impacted by a stiffer wind late. He was able to limit his putts to about 30 and hit plenty of greens in regulation to keep his score down."I think I hit the ball pretty solid overall," said Sagers, who was overall runner-up and four back of Junge. "I got up and down when I needed."He mastered the par-5 holes, shooting 4-under on four of them, including an eagle on No. 6. Wind a short fairway added a good drive. Sagers was clutch with his final two shots."I hit a pitching wedge on the front of the green," Sagers said. "I made a putt between 20 to 30 feet."Sagers and Junge switched top individual spots the last two years. O'Brien was pleased with their feat, saying it couldn't have been scripted better. He was proud of Sagers' performance."He played with a tremendous amount of confidence," O'Brien said. "It couldn't happen to a finer young man."Xavier shot 306, eight shots better than the round's runner-up Cedar Rapids Washington. Sophomores Kellen Gray and Luke Winker shot 75 and 82, respectively, giving the Saints an 875 total. Gray earned first-team all-conference honors.Sagers said the Saints have started to develop a low fourth score, allowing them to compete against top programs. It hurt them earlier in the season, but that problem has shrunk. A lot of work remains for Xavier to add to its success."First up is district," Sagers said about the start of the postseason next Monday at Elmcrest Country Club. "You can't get ahead of yourself."You have to play well there or you're not going to be playing at state. Just go out and play a solid round of golf next week."Linn-Mar was second in the final standings with 891, tallying 316 Monday. The Lions were led by first-teamers Trevor McCann and Max Thrune.The Warriors were paced by Jake Patterson, who tied for second with 75. Cedar Rapids Prairie's Colin Vondracek tied for fourth with 76.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE VALLEY DIVISIONAL

At Marion

(Gardner Golf Course, par 72)

Third-round results

Teams - 1. C.R. Xavier 306, 2. C.R. Washington 314, 3. Linn-Mar 316, 4. Cedar Falls 317, 5. C.R. Prairie 328*, 6. Dubuque Wahlert 328, 7. Waterloo West 346.*- Won tiebreaker with better fifth-player score.

Individuals - 1. Ben Sagers (CRX), 73, 2. (tie) Jake Patterson (CRW) and Kellen Gray (CRX), 75, 4. Colin Vondracek (CRP) and Matt Junge (CRX), 76.

Xavier (306): Sagers 73, Gray 75, Junge 76, Luke Winker 82

Washington (314): Patterson 75, Frank Lindwall 79, Dominic Rodriguez 80, Evan Jankwietz 80

Linn-Mar (316): Trevor McCann 77, Max Thrune 79, Brent Larson 79, Jake Sevcik 81

Prairie (328): Vondracek 76, Blake Seda 82, Ryan Doser 85, Cooper Reittinger 85

FINAL MVC VALLEY STANDINGS

Teams - 1. C.R. Xavier 875, 2. Linn-Mar 891, 3. C.R. Washington 902, 4. Dubuque Wahlert 915, 5. Cedar Falls 916, 6. C.R. Prairie 928, 7. Waterloo West 1,005.

First-team - 1. Matt Junge (CRX), 213, 2. Ben Sagers (CRX), 217, 3. (tie) Charlie Smith (DW) and Trevor McCann (LM), 218, 5. Max Thrune (LM), 221, 6. Kellen Gray (CRX), 222.

Second-team - 7. (tie) Dominic Rodriguez (CRW) and Jake Patterson (CRW), 224, 9. (tie) Sam Richter (WW) and Matt Bauman (CF), 225, 11. (tie) Frank Lindwall (CRW) and Sean Fernholz (CF), 226.

Honrable mention - 13. Jake Sevcik (LM), 227, 14. (tie) Cal Clark (CRP) and Evan Jankwietz (CRW), 229, 16. Jordan Even (CRX), 230, 17. Brent Larson (LM), 231, 18. Michael Lumetta (CF), 232.