Rene qualifies for state

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Dean Kraft/For the Sun Jamestown’s Austin Rene watches his drive at the West Region meet Wednesday in Dickinson.

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Jakobi Lux will have some company.

The Jamestown High School golfer didn’t shoot a qualifying score at the West Region meet at Heart River Golf Course on Wednesday in Dickinson, but his teammate did. Lux qualified at a meet last weekend.

Jamestown’s Austin Rene carded a 79 to tie for ninth place and advance to the Class A state meet, which starts Tuesday in Dickinson.

“Austin has played really well lately and we have been ready for him to break through,” JHS coach Dean Kraft said. “He’d be the first to tell you that he left strokes out there. The sky is the limit for him as he’s just an eighth-grader. He has a very mature disposition for golf. He takes the ups and downs of a round in great stride.”

The Blue Jays, however, didn’t fare as well, finishing seventh with 338 strokes. They were seven away from qualifying, as just top six make state. The Jays were in fourth after the first nine holes.

Kraft said he was particularly pleased with the effort of Ty Spitzer.

“We got a great performance out of Ty Spitzer,” Kraft said. “Ty hasn’t posted the greatest scores this season, but he never gives up. He’s a tough competitor.”

Spitzer finished with an 84 and Lux was third on the team with an 85. Brandon Hart and Nick Stockert shot a 90 and 93, respectively.

“We are looking forward to getting Austin and Jakobi ready to play at state,” Kraft said. “Both boys have worked hard this season and we are all proud of their accomplishment.”

Bismarck Century won the team competition with a 308, but Bismarck St. Mary’s wasn’t far behind with a 314.

St. Mary’s also had the medalist as Jake DeForest beat Tanner Halter of Dickinson in a two-hole playoff after both shot 74s.

West Region meet

At Heart River Golf Course, Dickinson

Team scores: Bismarck Century 308, Bismarck St. Mary’s 314, Minot 318, Bismarck High 325, Mandan 331, Dickinson 331, Jamestown 338, Williston 344, Belcourt 367.

Individual top 10: 1, Jake DeForest, BSM, 74 (two-hole playoff). 2, Tanner Halter, Dickinson, 74. 3, Jacob Dehne, Century, 75. 4 (tie), Troy Ressler, Century, 77. 4 (tie), Josh McCormick, BSM, 77. 6 (tie), Drew Lingle, Century, 78. 6 (tie), Tyler Miller, Century, 78. 6 (tie), Tyler Kast, Minot, 78. 9 (tie), Ty Jones, Minot, 79. 9 (tie), Derek Weininger, Bismarck, 79. 9 (tie), Austin Rene, Jamestown,

Team finishes

Belcourt: Clarence Davis 83, Jackson Davis 86, Seth Gillis 94, Seth Azure 104.

Bismarck Century: Jacob Dehne 75, Troy Ressler 77, Tyler Miller 78, Drew Lingle 78, Jordan Beyer 80, Sean Ternes 82.

Bismarck High: Derek Weninger 79, Nick Nustad 81, Trenton Schwehr 82, Matt Schirado 83, Sam Wangler 84, Nick Stavn 88.

Bismarck St. Mary’s: Jake DeForest 74, Josh McCormick 77, Thomas Gilchrist 81, Jordan Smith 82, Grant Dvorak 90, Joe Kassian 98.

Dickinson: Tanner Halter 74, Austin Fournier 81, Shay Ridl 85, Luke Hanel 91, Carter Donnan 92, Alex Priebe 95.

Jamestown: Austin Rene 79, Ty Spitzer 84, Jakobi Lux 85, Brandon Hart 90, Nick Stockert 93, Brandon Stahlhut WD.

Mandan: Colton Murphy 80, Taylor Trenda 82, Jake Kist 84, Zach Vollan 85, Tucker Bruington 89, Casey Kautzmann 90.

Minot: Tyler Kast 78, Ty Jones 79, Braxton Heupel 80, Taran Albright 81, Jersey Kelly 84, Cody Reynolds 86.

Williston: BJ Mahar 83, Keaton Leininger 84, Paul Suess 88, Trevor Powell 89, Jacob Kvernum 92, Taylor Wagner 98.

Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jays, golf