On a roll: Panthers close regular season at 25-3

     Monticello is getting noticed in state boys golf.

     The Panthers completed their regular season with a record of 25-3 (this includes all opponents in multi-team tournaments as well as dual meets), and are recognized by the Iowa Golf Coaches Association as the eighth-best school in Class 2A.

     Not all schools that play boys golf are members of the IGCA, so that ranking is somewhat skewed, but it doesn’t change the fact the Panthers are having an outstanding season.

     This was further proven last week, when Monticello faced a total of 10 opponents in three meets, and went 9-1. These included a 165 to 206 dual meet home win over Bellevue April 29, a runner-up finish in the eight-team Monticello Invitational May 1, and a win over Camanche and North Cedar in a triangular meet May 3 in Clinton.

     In the annual home tournament Wednesday, Justin Recker finished third individually with a 75, including 35 on the back nine. He finished four strokes behind medalist Ethan Streicher of Edgewood-Colesburg, and one shot behind runner-up Mark Horcher of Marion.

     Connor Lambert was ninth with a 79, while Hunter Kramer and Bo Kramer each shot 85s that counted in the team score.

     “We had some real competitive scores,” Monticello coach Curt Tauke said. “A 324 was respectable, but I think this team can even go lower than that.”

     The Panthers lost only to Marion, which shot 310.

     “They had one of those meets where they put it all together,” Tauke said.

     At the April 29 home meet, the Panthers shot 165, led by Lambert, who was medalist with a 39. Tyler Blattner and Recker tied for second, each with 41, and Daltyn Kramer shot a 44.

     “I think we’ve had four different guys who have been medalists,” Tauke said. “That’s nice to have; it shows the depth of our team.”

     The Panthers also won the junior varsity meet, 195 to 251, led by Ty Kehoe with a 44.

     “That’s a couple of times now that the JV has scored lower than 200,” the coach said.

     Monticello traveled to Valley Oaks in Clinton May 3, and shot 174 to defeat Camanche (218) and North Cedar (208). Tauke said the course was actually closed to the public due to extremely wet conditions, but the teams were allowed to play because they don’t use carts.

     This time, Bo Kramer and Recker tied for medalist honors with 43 apiece, and just one stroke back with 44s were Daltyn Kramer and Kehoe.

     Tauke said the course, longer and more spread out than most courses the Panthers play, helped the team.

     “It’s good for us to play those courses,” he said. “There is a little bit more strategy involved. It’s a matter of thinking a little bit before you hit.”

Postseason begins

     The Panthers were scheduled to begin their postseason with the River Valley Conference Tournament May 7 at Riverside. The Class 2A sectional meet will be Friday, May 10, 10 a.m. in Dyersville.

April 29

(at Monticello)

Monticello 165,

Bellevue 206

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Connor Lambert 39 (medalist), Justin Recker 41 (co-runner-up), Tyler Blattner 41 (co-runner-up), Daltyn Kramer 44, Hunter Kramer 45, Bo Kramer 45.

JUNIOR VARSITY RESULT

     Monticello 195, Bellevue 251. Monticello cards: Ty Kehoe 44 (medalist), Kaden Kiburz 46 (runner-up), Chandler Weber 52, Noah Webber 53, Grahm Schneiter 54, Riley Manternach 62.

May 1

Monticello Inv.

TEAM CARDS

     1, Marion 310; 2, Monticello 324; 3, Tipton 326, 4, Edgewood-Colesburg 337; 5, Anamosa 352; 6, Dyersville Beckman 357; 7, Cascade 370; 8, North Cedar 388.

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Justin Recker 40-35–75 (third place), Connor Lambert 40-49–79 (ninth), Hunter Kramer 42-43–85, Bo Kramer 41-44–85, Tyler Blattner 50-37–87, Daltyn Kramer 43-45 88. Medalist: Ethan Streicher, Ed-Co, 71.

May 3

Camanche triangular

(at Valley Oaks, Clinton)

TEAM CARDS

     1, Monticello 174; 2, Camanche 208; 3, North Cedar 218.

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Bo Kramer 43 (co-medalist), Justin Recker 43 (co-medalist), Daltyn Kramer 44, Ty Kehoe 44, Connor Lambert 47, Hunter Kramer 48, Kaden Kiburz 50.