Members of the Webster City boys’ golf team (left to right) Tyler Olson, Garrett Arnold, Trey Lyons, Chase Rattenborg, Drew Schwering and Beau Klaver pose with the championship trophy and their medals following yesterday’s victory at the North Central Conference tournament, played at the Fort Dodge Country Club. The Lynx shot a 328, and Lyons was the individual medalist with a 78. Submitted photo

FORT DODGE — Trey Lyons wasn’t reaching for the clouds when he stepped to the first tee at the Fort Dodge Country Club yesterday morning. All he wanted was a top-10 finish on the North Central Conference leaderboard — an achievement, sure, but nothing that wasn’t attainable.

As it turns out, those clouds were within his reach. And following a few birdies to go along with steely nerves, he grabbed them and held on tight.

Despite a few bumps, particularly during the early holes on the front and back sides of the 6,263-yard, par-71 layout, Lyons strung together the best competitive round of his career and captured the individual conference crown.

And it was a clean sweep for the Webster City boys’ golf team. After hoisting the regular season dual-meet crown, the Lynx fired a 328 to win the tournament championship as well by eight strokes over runner-up Clear Lake (336). Hampton-Dumont/CAL (339) was third, followed by Humboldt (342) and St. Edmond (348).

“It’s awesome,” Lyons, who posted a 7-over par 78 to nip HDC’s Tommy Birdsell (79) by one stroke, said. “I had a pretty good idea that whoever won my group was going to win the whole thing because my group was pretty solid. My chipping and putting were the best parts of my game … I probably had eight or nine up and downs.”

Drew Schwering, the Lynx No. 5 player, was third overall with an 80. No. 3 stick Beau Klaver also found a spot in the top 10, as he shared eighth following an 84. Chase Rattenborg’s 86 was 14th.

The depth that WCHS showcased throughout the regular season again played a pivotal role in topping the field.

“Without our depth, we wouldn’t have won,” WCHS head coach Eric Dawson said. “When you look at the other teams in the conference, they don’t have the depth that we have. We honestly don’t know who our scores are going to come from.”

Lyons opened his day 4-over after four holes, but began to rally with a birdie on the par-4, 376-yard par-4 fifth hole. He played the final four holes of the front at just 1-over.

On the back, Lyons again sat at 4-over after four before another birdie, this time at the 389-yard, par-4 14th, righted the ship. He added a third birdie at the 345-yard, par-4 17th, and played his final five holes at 1-under par.

“The birdies were definitely key,” Lyons said.

Schwering birdied three holes as well — the 298-yard, par-4 sixth; the 153-yard, par-3 eighth; and the 376-yard, par-4 12th. Klaver birdied the 355-yard, par-4 16th.

“Drew making three birdies was huge, and Trey shooting the best round of his career was obviously huge,” Dawson said. “There were four teams that I thought had a chance to win it. We shot the best score we’ve shot all year, so I was happy that we could do that.”

WCHS hopes to carry the momentum into Friday’s Class 3A sectional tournament at the Ames Golf and Country Club. The top two teams — three if host Gilbert finishes first or second — will advance to the district tournament at Waverly Municipal Golf Course on Friday, May 21.

Play at the sectional will get underway at 10 a.m.

NCC Tournament

Monday at Fort Dodge

Team Standings

1. Webster City 328; 2. Clear Lake 336; 3. Hampton-Dumont/CAL 339; 4. Humboldt 342; 5. St. Edmond 348; 6. Iowa Falls-Alden 358; 7. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 375; 8. Algona 381.

Individual Leaderboard

1. Trey Lyons (WC) 78; 2. Tommy Birdsell (HDC) 79; 3. Drew Schwering (WC) 80; 4. Gabe Gidel (HUM) 81; 4. Eric Ritter (CL) 81; 4. Easton DeVries (CL) 81; 7. Drew Schaeffer (SE) 83; 8. Beau Klaver (WC) 84; 8. Tucker Heeren (HDC) 84; 8. Will Sackville (HDC) 84.

Other Webster City Scores

14. Chase Rattenborg 86; 21. Garrett Arnold 89; Tyler Olson 96.