Hawks navigate wind to trump the field at tourney
Sogard, Coy and Ullestad all place in top five
JEWELL — The 3,201-yard track looks rather benign at first glance, but don’t be fooled — the Jewell Golf and Country Club has the ability to jump up and bite when a golfer isn’t looking.
Add in some wind — it gusted to as high as 20 mph yesterday and directly into the players’ faces on several of the tougher holes — and tricky pin placements and, well, good luck.
The course got the better of the players at yesterday’s Hawk Invitational, but South Hamilton used its course knowledge to navigate the potholes better than the rest of the field en route to a team-title total of 339. Roland-Story (360) and Madrid (360) both finished 21 strokes behind.
“When you’re dealing with windy conditions and quicker than average greens … you’ve got to have a pretty good all-around game at Jewell,” South Hamilton coach Mark Ullestad said. “It’s a tougher nine-hole track. It’s not a bomber and wedge course.
“(A 339) is a good score. It’s not where we ultimately need to be, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
Greene County’s Elijah Black was the only player to break 80. His 79 earned him the individual title by four strokes over runner-up and South Hamilton senior Nathan Sogard (83). The Hawks’ Colton Coy (84) and Jared Ullestad (84) were third and fourth, respectively.
Chase Jewell and Dugan Swenson turned in rounds of 88 for South Hamilton. Luke Peters added a 91.
The South Hamilton junior varsity squad was also in the field and posted a 374 to finish fifth. DJ Klonglan (88) was the low man.
Sogard, Coy and Ullestad all had their share of issues and yet still managed to challenge at the top of the leaderboard.
Sogard had one birdie, but was forced to scribble down a triple-bogey going out and coming in on the difficult par-4 fifth hole.
Coy had a pair of birdies at Nos. 3 and 7, but also double-bogeyed Nos. 4 and 5.
Ullestad was solid early on with a 40 on the front nine, but struggled coming in with a 44. He swallowed a pair of double-bogeys at the par-4 ninth.
“That pin placement on No. 9, above the hole, was tough,” Mark Ullestad said. “And on No. 5 going into the wind, Nathan has a high ball flight with that unique swing of his, so that was challenging. So there are some things to clean up hopefully between now and sectionals.”
The postseason will begin next Friday. South Hamilton will head to Legend Trail Golf Course in Parkersburg for a Class 2A sectional that will begin at 10 a.m.
Hawk Invitational
At Jewell Golf and Country Club
Thursday
Team Standings
1. South Hamilton 339; 2. Roland-Story 360; 3. Madrid 360; 4. Greene County 373; 5. South Hamilton JV 374; 6. Ogden 391; 7. North Polk 396.
Individual Leaderboard
1. Elijah Black (GC) 79; 2. Nathan Sogard (SH) 83; 3. Colton Coy (SH) 84; 4. Jared Ullestad (SH) 84; 5. Jake Ford (R-S) 86.
Other South Hamilton Scores
Chase Jewell 88, Dugan Swenson 88, Luke Peters 91.
South Hamilton JV Scores
DJ Klonglan 88, Jacob Sprague 90, Wyatt Heins 98, Alex Titus 98, Trevor Lammers 99, Teagan Risetter 109.