Saints hope to return to state

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Xavier Coach Tim O'Brien has said this year's team compares favorably to any of his six previous Saints golf squad.

They will need to impress their coach if they want to claim a second straight state berth and second in Xavier's relatively short history.

The Saints will have a tough challenge Monday at an Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 4A district meet at Elmcrest Country Club, beginning at 9 a.m. Xavier will host heavily-favored Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Rapids Washington, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Linn-Mar, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Waterloo East and Waterloo West. It is one of four districts across the state.

Xavier capped another Mississippi Valley Conference division title last week. They are eighth in the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association rankings. The Saints have progressed as the season has, and the goal is to be at their best for the postseason.

"We've been pretty steady," O'Brien said. "Our scores stayed down. We've yet to play our best collectively. We've still been pretty good."

The Saints average a little more than 157 per nine holes. They are led by seniors Matt Junge and Ben Sagers, who have been MVC Valley Players of the Year the last two seasons. Junge, who earned those honors this year, is ranked 11th, but has been in the top 10 of the IHSGCA individual rankings.

Sagers claimed medalist honors at the final round of the MVC Valley meet. John Ingwersen has been another senior leader for Xavier, while sophomore Kellen Gray was a first-team all-MVC performer. Junior Jordan Evan earned honorable mention all-conference, helping the Saints win 16 total strokes over Linn-Mar.

"This is our lowest scoring average in my seven years here," O'Brien said. "This has been my best team and they're proving it by the scores they're shooting."

Balance has been missing at times for Xavier. The Saints have been without a low fourth score at times, but that problem has lessened as the season advanced.

"The problem is starting to shrink," Sagers said. "Our fourth scores are getting better and better every meet."

A number of teams will be vying for three berths to the state tournament Friday and Saturday at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion. With one of those spots nearly assured to Cedar Rapids Kennedy, which placed second at last year's state meet, Xavier will have to battle familiar foes like Washington, Ottumwa, Linn-Mar, Jefferson and Cedar Falls. All are ranked in the top 20.

The key is simple for success Monday.

"Just go out and play a solid round of golf," Sagers said. "Add them up and if we end up at state then we'd like to play two complete rounds with four good scores."

The Cougars have been dominant this season, winning a seventh straight MVC division title by 70 strokes. They are led by MVC Mississippi division Player of the Year Davis Sutton, who is No. 1 in the IHSGCA individual rankings. Conner Koberg, Cole Murdock, Tanner Stewart, Seth Nutt and Ross Grekoff all earned all-MVC honors, providing a deep group of scorers for Kennedy.

Sutton, who tied for sixth, Koberg, Murdock and Grekoff all competed in the 2012 state meet.