Battling back: Panthers show resilience while hosting invitational

     Monticello showed its ability to finish strong while hosting its annual invitational boys golf tournament Wednesday, May 3 at the Monticello Golf Club.

     The Panthers finished fifth as a team, with a score of 370. Dyersville Beckman was the team champion with a score of 348.

     Despite the finish, Monticello had a considerable success story over the final nine holes of the 18-hole event.

     “All of our kids improved from the first round to the second round,” Monticello coach Curt Tauke said. “It was nice to see the kids hang in there and battle on the back side.”

     Aaron Gearhart shot a 42-41–83 to finish second individually. Kegan Arduser recovered from a 50 on the front nine to shoot 40 on the back. And Daltyn Kramer improved by 19 strokes his second time around.

     Arduser’s 40 was the second lowest second-round score of the day, behind Riley LeGrand of Dyersville Beckman, who posted a 36-39 on the back nine to win medalist honors with a 75. LeGrand was the only golfer to shoot in the 30s in either round, doing it twice.

     Monticello defeated Camanche, which the Panthers had lost to earlier this season, by five strokes.

     The Panthers then played at Fillmore May 4 against Cascade, and lost by just three strokes, 191 to 194. Monticello was playing without Gearhart, who was recovering from an illness.

     Arduser shot another round of 40 for the Panthers. He tied with Cascade’s Race Cuckler, but Cuckler earned medalist honors due to the cardback rule, so Arduser was officially second. Nash Sutterman shot a 47 to finish third overall, and Kramer’s 50 was good for fourth.

     This week is a big one for the Panthers, who were scheduled to play in the River Valley Conference Meet May 9 in Solon, and will compete in a Class 2A sectional Friday, May 12, 10 a.m. in Guttenberg.

     “We have a formula for success, but there’s very little room for error,” Tauke said.

May 3

Monticello Inv.

TEAM CARDS

     1, Dyersville Beckman 348; 2, North Cedar 349; 3, Marion 350; 4, Tipton 363; 5, Monticello 370; 6, Camanche 375; 7, Cascade 410.

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Aaron Gearhart 42-41–83 (runner-up), Kegan Arduser 50-40–90, Nash Sutterman 48-45–93, Kirklen Kiburz 54-50–104, Hunter Kramer 61-53–114, Daltyn Kramer 67-48–115. Champion: Riley LeGrand, Dyersville Beckman, 75.

May 4

(at Fillmore)

Cascade 191,

Monticello 194

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Kegan Arduser 40, Nash Sutterman 47, Daltyn Kramer 50, Kirklen Kiburz 57, Hunter Kramer 60, Trevor Beitz 67. Medalist: Race Cuckler, Cascade, 40 (won by cardback rule).