Stoakes 2nd at sectional, state ambitions intact

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Fact Box

Team Standings

1. Ballard 316; 2. Nevada 334; 3. Grinnell 334; 4. Iowa Falls-Alden 355; 5. Hampton-Dumont 363; 6. Carlisle 369; 7. Webster City 384; 8. Saydel 390.

Individual District Qualifiers

1. Devin Leland (B) 74; 2. Daniel Stoakes (WC) 75; 3. Chris Marsho (G) 76; 4. (tie) Matt Greenfield (B) and Tyler Olson (N) 79.

Webster City Results

Daniel Stoakes 75, Martin Hartnett 95, Easton Burgin 106, Karter Lenning 108, Jamie Myers 116, Taylor Johnson 125.

WEBSTER CITY Playing at home has its advantages.

Webster City sophomore golfer Daniel Stoakes took advantage of his familiarity with Briggs Woods Golf Course Friday afternoon, as he navigated his way to a 3-over-par 75 and a second-place finish in a Class 3A sectional meet field that included 47 other golfers.

Stoakes finished just one shot behind Ballard junior Devin Leland, who has placed sixth at each of the last two 3A state meets. Those two, along with Chris Marsho (76) of Grinnell, Matt Greenfield (79) of Ballard and Tyler Olson (79) of Nevada advanced to this Friday's district meet at Waverly Municipal Golf Course.

"I'm really proud of Daniel because this has been his goal, first to go on to the district and then to get to state," Webster City coach Josh Walls said. "His work ethic is great. He's always the first one at practice and the last one to leave and he's seeing all of that hard work pay off."

Stoakes jotted down six pars and three bogeys on the front 9 for a 3-over-par 39. He settled down once he traveled to the back 9 though, knocking in a birdie at the par-4 15th to get back to 2-over. But he lipped out a par putt at the par-4 17th.

"Daniel said he just kept lipping out putts all day. But shooting 75 and getting second, I told him there's nothing wrong with that," Walls said

Ballard the two-time defending 3A state champion took its first step towards another crown by taking the sectional title with a 316. Nevada and Grinnell both posted 334s to tie for second, but Nevada got the nudge into districts via the fifth-score tiebreaker.

Webster City shot a season-low 384 to finish seventh, six shots ahead of Saydel.

"Our goal was to get down around 380, so I'm proud of all the guys," Walls said. "They were all pretty satisfied knowing that our goal was to break 400."

Martin Hartnett shot a 95 for the Lynx. Easton Burgin added a 106 and Karter Lenning turned in a 108 for the fourth and final score.