The Hemingford Bobcats golf team headed to North Platte on May 24, where they competed in the Class D state golf tournament.
The Bobcats set a goal to make it to the state tournament previously in the year, a plan that they accomplished this past week.
“We set a goal to make it to the State Tournament and we’re able to achieve that, so everything at the tournament, we treated as icing on the cake. I hoped that would relieve some pressure so that we could continue playing our best golf. Unfortunately, we didn’t perform as well as we did at districts,” said coach Joe Collins.
Seniors Ethan Specht and Daren McConville played their final season as Bobcats, and what an experience they had doing so. Daren McConville was able to play his best on the first day of the tournament, breaking 90 for the first time in his career, shooting an 89. Ethan Specht decided he would play golf for the first time this year and ended up helping out the Bobcats tremendously. Specht shot an 118 on the first day and an 113 on the second.
“Ethan was the most consistent of our group as he scored 118 the first day and 113 the second. Each of those scores being just slightly above his average,” said Collins.
As for Dax, Neo Powell and Drew Varner will be returning again next year to compete in golf.
“I hope that this experience lights a fire of motivation to propel our off-season training,” said Collins.
Varner shot a 94 on his first day. Things did not quite go Dax Powell’s way on the first day. He ended up shooting a 93. He recovered on the second day, where he shot an 85. Neo Powell shot an 115, only three strokes over his personal best.
“The Bobcats shot their second best score of the season on the first day, where they had hit a combined score of 391. Our team shot a season second best score of 391 on the first day, seven strokes more than our season best district score of 384 to send us to state. I’m really proud of all of our guys and excited to see us playing some of our best golf by the end of the season. Just what every coach would want and credit these kids for wanting it and going after their goals,” said Collins.
The Bobcats placed 15th, shooting a team score of 391 on the first day and 400 on the second day for 791.
The following are the results for the boy’s state golf tournament:
Dax Powell – Round one: 93 Round two: 85 Total: 178
Daren McConville – Round one: 89 Round two: 99 Total: 188
Drew Varner – Round one: 94 Round two: 103 Total: 197
Ethan Specht – Round one: 118 Round two: 113 Total: 231
Neo Powell – Round one: 115 Round two: 130 Total: 245
Round one: 391 Round two: 400 Total: 791
