With senior Dominic McCain back on the course, the Mid-Prairie boys saw improvement in both Thursday’s triangular at Cedarcrest, and back in Kalona on Monday. 

McCain was the meet medalist in his first action of the season, shooting a 38 to lead Mid-Prairie to a second-place finish out of three teams. McCain shot a 39 on Monday, but was edged for medalist honors by West Branch’s Will Bridges who finished with 38. The Bears came away with a 166-191 conference win. 

McCain had six pars and three bogeys on Thursday as Mid-Prairie finished with 197 strokes, behind Washington with 182. The Golden Hawks finished well ahead of meet host Columbus with 240. 

“The conditions were much better than Monday and the scores reflected it,” Mid-Prairie coach Kelby Bender said. “As a team we shot 25 strokes better than we did on Monday to finish second behind Washington. Dominic McCain was back in the lineup and played well in his first meet of the season.

“Warren Scarff had another solid round shooting a 50 which was two strokes better than Monday.”

Aiden Bush and Drew Schlabaugh finished with rounds of 54 and 55, respectively. 

Ben Mattes finished with 57 strokes and Collin Miller shot a 63.

“I am very pleased with our first week,” Bender said. “Our young golfers really competed and are working hard and improving.  Dominic has worked hard on his game and is off to a great start leading this young team as the only senior.”

The Golden Hawks improved by six strokes again on Monday, but it wasn’t enough against a West Branch team coming off of a runner-up finish at the last 2A state tournament in 2019. 

Dylan Countryman, who finished second individually in the last state meet as a freshman, had the Bears fourth-best score on Monday with a 44. 

“I am proud of our effort today versus a really good West Branch team,” Bender said. “Dominic McCain led the team with a great round of three over par 39 to earn runner-up medalist honors.”

The consistent McCain finished with six pars and three bogeys for the second straight meet. Bush shot a season-best round of 46 and his fellow sophomore Scarff finished with 51 strokes.  Mattes and Schlabaugh each shot a 55, and Miller had a round of 67. 

Ian Schmidt shot a 61 to lead the Mid-Prairie JV. Levi Bontrager and Parker Ehrenfeldt finished with scores of 66.

“Now we go back to work the rest of the week,” Bender said. “We will practice hard and continue to get better.”