NEVADA, Mo. — Nevada’s boys golf team began the 2023 season on a positive note by defeating Lamar 197-223 in a dual on Monday at the Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course.
Nevada sophomore Preston Drake shot a 45 to earn medalist honors. Nevada freshman Peyton Wyant took second with a 46 and sophomore Wyatt Jenkins shot a 48 to finish third.
Rounding out Nevada’s team score was sophomore Hunter Gruenhagen with a 58. Also competing for Nevada was freshman Jethro Solidum (70).
“I was very pleased with how the boys got around the course,” Nevada coach Brian Leonard said. “This was the first outing for everyone on the team except Preston, so I’m sure there were several first contest butterflies going around. I wasn’t sure how the boys would score today, but I was very happy to see several of the scores in the upper 40s. I know with continued work on the short game, those scores can get down to the lower 40s if not in the upper 30s before the season is over. We really haven’t had too much time to work on the short game due to the unfavorable weather we’ve had over the last two weeks. It has really put a damper on some of the practice time on the actual course.
“We will work on several of the swing flaws on Tuesday at practice, then we will continue to work and improve on the short game…chipping and putting on Wednesday,” Leonard added. “We need to reduce the number of putts and get the ball closer to the hole when we miss the green.”
Competing for Lamar were Koen Littlejohn (49), Rein Stephen (53), Cade Moore (59), Connor Kennedy (62) and Trey Shaw (65).
Nevada will host McDonald County and Butler for a triangular on Thursday.
