Improved play: Lux, Rene shoot better on Day 2

Both eighth-grader Austin Rene and sophomore Jakobi Lux shaved strokes off their scores during Day 2 of the state Class A golf meet in Dickinson on Wednesday.

But the Jamestown Blue Jay golfers were hoping for a little more.

Rene carded an 87 on the 6,748-yard, par 72 Heart River Golf Course to finish tied for 67th place with a two-day score of 176. Rene shot an 89 on Tuesday in very windy conditions.

Lux ended the state meet in 78th place with a 183. Lux’s round of 88 on Wednesday was seven strokes better than the 95 he carded the day before.

What really stung the young Blue Jay golfers was getting off the green. Rene stroked 42 putts on Wednesday.

“Both boys really struggled putting today,” JHS golf coach Dean Kraft said. “There were a lot of tough pins.”

The first part of Wednesday’s round was plagued with the same windy conditions the golfers faced on Tuesday, but the weather conditions improved as the tournament rolled on.

“Both boys played with a lot of composure and carried themselves well despite their disappointment in their scores,” Kraft said. “They did all the things good golfers do. They got all their information to execute, especially with their short game and their putting, but their execution let them down.

“That happens, especially to inexperienced golfers. But both boys are only two years into competitive golf careers, so I thought they represented themselves well by their demeanor and effort on the course.”

The experienced gained by Rene and Lux at this year’s state meet should only help the program moving forward.

“We can certainly use this as motivation for our program. We are still a young and up-and-coming team,” Kraft said. “I know we will be hungry to get back to state.”

West Fargo won the state team title with a two-day score of 606. Fargo Shanley’s 622 was a distant second.

The Packers’ Riley Johnson took medalist honors, backing up his par 72 on Day 1 with a one-under par 71 on Wednesday. Johnson’s teammate Connor Holland finished runner up with a 2-day score of 148, five strokes off the pace.

As for the Blue Jays, they’re planning on utilizing their summer wisely.

“For all of our players in both the boys and girls programs, the most important two-and a-half months is right now. It’s time for lessons and competition,” Kraft said. “It all starts Friday at Jamestown Country Club with the Optimist qualifying tournament at 10 a.m. and moves on with Dakota Junior Tour events and Minnesota Junior PGA events.

“There is a wealth of opportunity for our teams to improve, and now is the time to get it done.”

Class A State Golf Tournament

At Heart River Golf Course in Dickinson

Team scores: 1, West Fargo 312-294–606. 2, Fargo Shanley 319-303–622. 3, Bismarck Century 326-302–628. 4, Bismarck High 324-309–633. 5, Bismarck St. Mary’s 330-313–643. 6, Grand Forks Red River 337-311–648. 7, Fargo Davies, 340-309–649. 8, Wahpeton 334-318–652. 9 (tie), Minot 335-323–658; Dickinson 340-318–658. 11, Fargo South 345-314–659. 12, Mandan 351-339–690.

Individual results:

1, Riley Johnson, West Fargo, 72-71–143. 2, Connor Holland, West Fargo, 78-70–148. 3, Jacob Dehne, Century, 76-76–152. 4, Ty Kennedy, Grand Forks Central, 74-79–153. 5, Nick Nustad, Bismarck, 80-74–154. 6 (tie), Ryan Ames, Wahpeton, 81-74–155; Nick Jenson, Valley City, 82-73–155. 8 (tie), Nick Evin, West Fargo, 79-77–156; Zach Overvold, Davies, 81-75–156; Tyler Rivard, Shanley, 77-79–156; BJ Mahar, Williston, 82-74–156. 12 (tie), Tanner Halter, Dickinson, 83-74–157; Jake DeForest, St. Mary’s, 79-78–157. 14, Thomas Strandemo, Shanley, 82-76–158. 15 (tie), Payton Johnson, West Fargo, 83-76–159; Trenton Schwehr, Bismarck, 82-77–159; Thomas Nelson, Wahpeton, 84-75–159; Troy Ressler, Century, 85-74–159. 19 (tie), Nathan Hemming, Red River, 84-76–160; Ben Wobaum, Shanley, 82-78–160; Ben Sorenson, Valley City, 83-77–160; Austen Strom, Fargo North, 82-78–160.

23 (tie), Aaron Pallen, Davies, 83-78–161; Cam Hager, Shanley, 78-83–161. 25, Brady Olhman, Red River, 83-79–162. 26, Nick Stavn, Bismarck, 79-84–163. 27 (tie), Jon Nord, Red River, 89-75–164; Derek Weninger, Bismarck, 83-81–164; Jordan Smith, St. Mary’s, 80-84–164; Jake Hintz, South, 85-79–164; Grant Dvorak, St. Mary’s, 86-78–164; Josh McCormick, St. Mary’s, 85-79–164; Grady Meyer, Shanley, 90-74–164. 35 (tie), Cody Reynolds, Minot, 80-85–165; Taran Albright, Minot, 83-82–165; Michael Storandt, Shanley, 90-75–165; Tyler Miller, Century, 92-73–165; Matt Schirado, Bismarck, 88-77–165.

40, Trevor Swangler, Davies, 90-76–166. 41 (tie), Jared Lentz, Valley City, 84-83–167; Thomas Gilchrist, St. Mary’s, 89-78–167. 43 (tie), Austin Fournier, Dickinson, 83-85–168; Jersey Kelly, Minot, 86-82–168; Luke Hanel, Dickinson, 89-79–168; Parker Sirek, Wahpeton, 87-81–168. 47 (tie), Cole Johnson, West Fargo, 86-83–169; Tucker Bruington, Mandan, 87-82–169; Tyler Kast, Minot, 90-79–169. 50 (tie), Joe Kassian, St. Mary’s, 88-82–170; Ricky Phillips, Grand Forks Central, 88-82–170. 52 (tie), Jack Eickhof, Red River, 90-81–171; Sam Wangler, Bismarck, 84-87–171; Braxton Heupel, Minot, 86-85–171. 55 (tie), Tucker Windels, Davies, 92-80–172; Jon Baune, South, 89-83–172; Ty Jones, Minot, 92-80–172; Luke Strom, Red River, 81-91–172. 59 (tie), Colton Murphy, Mandan, 87-86–173; Jared Steen, South, 84-89–173; Max Restmayer, Davies, 88-85–173; Jake Richels, Wahpeton, 84-89–173.

63 (tie), Zach Vollan, Mandan, 90-84–174; Jake Kist, Mandan, 87-87–174. 65 (tie), Chase Pulczinski, West Fargo, 94-81–175; Eric Christiansen, Wahpeton, 87-88–175. 67 (tie), Barret Eickhof, Red River, 92-84–176; Austin Rene, Jamestown, 89-87–176; Zach Sklebar, Fargo North, 86-90–176. 70 (tie), Charlie Hermes, Wahpeton, 85-92–177; Bryan Pallen, Davies, 88-89–177; Alex Priebe, Dickinson, 85-92–177. 73 (tie), Chase Fuginger, South, 87-91–178; Jordan Beyer, Century, 95-83–178; 75 (tie), Taylor Trenda, Mandan, 92-88–180; Carter Donnan, Dickinson, 92-88–180. 77, Jake Wavra, Grand Forks Central, 182. 78, Jakobi Lux, Jamestown, 95-88–183. 79, Austin Tweet, Mandan, 99-95–194. Shay Ridl, Dickinson, WD-80. Andrew Thompson, Grand Forks Central, DQ-91. Landon Poss, South, DQ-74. Jarrett Etches, South, WD-78. Drew Lingle, Century, 80-DQ.

Sun sports writer Michael Savaloja can be reached at (701) 952-8461 or by email at mikes@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jays, golf