The Golden Hawks boys golf team took the drive to Durant to compete in the eight team Wildcat Invitational at the Wahkonsa Country Club on April 18.

This was Mid-Prairie’s second 18 hole tournament of the season and they were able to finish in fourth place with a score of 357 in this road invitational. The school who came out on top was Tipton with a score of 339. 

“We played well on a beautiful day for golf,” Mid-Prairie coach Kelby Bender said. “We shot a 357, one better than our first 18 hole tournament and finished 4th out of eight teams.  Drew, Warren and Alex all shot personal best 18 hole rounds.  All six golfers were under 100 and all six made a birdie.”

Placing fifth overall out of 31 golfers and the top performer for the Golden Hawks at the Invitational was junior Drew Schlabaugh. Schlabaugh shot an 83, six strokes better than his score of 89 at Mid-Prairies first 18-hole event of the season. 

In the front nine Schlabaugh shot a 41, and then he finished with a 42 on the back nine. He was able to sink a birdie on hole three with two strokes. His most impressive feat came on holes seven, eight, nine, ten, 11, and 12 where he connected on six consecutive pars. 

“Drew Schlabaugh led the team with 8 pars and birdie on the par three 3rd hole as he finished 5th individually,” Bender said. “Drew played really well. He got off the tee well and was good around the greens.”

Finishing in a three-way tie for tenth place, with West Liberty sophomore Cole Daufeldt and West Branch sophomore Paxton Tisinger, was Mid-Prairie senior Warren Scarff. 

Scarff shot a personal best 87, four better than the 91 he posted in last week’s 18 hole event at home.

He finished the front nine with 41 strokes and ended the back nine with 46 strokes. His day came to an end making one birdie  and five pars. The five pars he made came on holes two, three, five, 12, 14, and 18.   

“Warren Scarff shot 41, 46 for an 87 to tie for 10th,” Bender said. “He played really well on the front nine, making a long putt on hole nine for a birdie. Found a little trouble on the 11th that hurt his back nine score but finished strong with a par on the 18th.”

Mid-Prairie senior Aiden Bush’s front nine and back nine were perfectly balanced, shooting a 46 on both of them to arrive at a 92 and ending up tied, with Tipton freshman Gavin Roth, for 23rd place. 

Bush was able to connect on a birdie and four pars during the event. His pars came on holes one, five, nine, and 14.  

“Aiden Bush had another steady day as he shot a pair of 46’s for a 92 and tied for 23rd. He hit his second shot from 100 yards to 2 foot on 18 and made the birdie putt on the par 4,” Bender said. 

Setting a new personal nine hole best on the back nine to arrive at a score of 95 was Mid-Prairie senior Alex Bean. 

Shooting a 50 on the front nine and a 45 on the back nine Bean finishes the event in a three way tie, with West Branch junior Reece Druecker and North Cedar junior Hunter Lohman, for 26th place. He made one birdie and sank in five pars on holes one, six, 10, 12, and 18.  

“Alex Bean rounded out the scoring with a 50, 45 for a 95 and tied for 26th.  He bounced back and played well on the back 9,” Bender said. “His 45 is a 9 hole personal best. Overall it was a great day.  I am proud of the effort and competitiveness they showed.”

Mid-Prairie traveled to West Liberty to compete in a 12-team West Liberty Invitational Golf Tournament on April 25. After the tournament a non-conference dual against Louisa-Muscatine at the Kalona Golf Course awaits the Golden Hawks on April 27.