Monti shows potential in early meets

     The word “potential” comes up pretty often these days in any conversation with head coach Curt Tauke about his Monticello boys golf team.

     That potential was evident in three meets for the Panthers last week, particularly in a triangular meet April 5 in which the Panthers scored an easy victory by firing a sizzling 156 team score. The meet was hosted by North Linn and held at Three Elms in Independence.

     “Everyone had a good night,” Tauke said. “We had an outstanding meet for this early in the year. This shows the potential that this team has.”

     Justin Recker shot a one-over par 36 to earn meet medalist honors, with teammate Ty Kehoe two strokes back at 38. With Connor Lambert shooting 40 and Hunter Kramer coming in with a 42, the team averaged a 39 for its scores that counted.

     “Already Justin has stepped forward,” Tauke said. “He has the potential to shoot par or better. His long game is one of the better ones we’ve had.”

     The Panthers were successful in their other two meets last week as well. They opened the season April 2 at Plum River in Preston with a dual meet victory over Northeast. Monticello shot 179, and the Rebels had 200. Recker was medalist, leading the way with a 41, while Lambert had a 44, Bo Kramer 45, Hunter Kramer and Kehoe 49 apiece, and Kaden Kiburz 55.

     Monticello won despite not being able to use its own course for practice.

     “We had no practice rounds, so I was very happy,” Tauke said, adding that “Kaden, from last year to this year, has made a lot of strides.”

     On April 6, the Panthers traveled to Woods Edge in Edgewood to play in the Viking Invitational, finishing second out of six teams. Marion won with 338, and Monticello shot 352. Edgewood-Colesburg was third with 365.

     “We shot OK,” Tauke said. “It was a good experience to play a course like that. There is a lot of water, and out of bounds, and we ran into some issues there. We had a lot of penalty strokes.”

     Monticello had two medalists; Recker shot 79 to finish third, and Lambert had an 89 to place seventh.

April 2

(at Plum River, Preston)

Monticello 179

Northeast 200

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Justin Recker 41 (medalist), Connor Lambert 44, Bo Kramer 45, Ty Kehoe 49, Hunter Kramer 49, Kaden Kiburz 55.

April 5

(at Three Elms, Independence)

TEAM CARDS

     1, Monticello 156; 2, North Linn 194; 3, Springville 210.

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Justin Recker 36 (medalist), Ty Kehoe 38 (runner-up), Connor Lambert 40, Hunter Kramer 42, Bo Kramer 47, Daltyn Kramer 48.

April 6

Viking Invitational

(at Woods Edge, Edgewood)

TEAM CARDS

     1, Marion 338; 2, Monticello 352; 3, Edgewood-Colesburg 365; 4, Don Bosco 373; 5, East Buchanan 414; 6, Cascade 415.

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Justin Recker 40-39–79 (third place), Connor Lambert 46-43–89 (seventh), Hunter Kramer 41-51–92, Bo Kramer 44-48–92, Kaden Kiburz 48-48–96, Daltyn Kramer 53-45–98.