ERIC VICCARO, sports@moberlymonitor.com
Moberly High School’s boys golf team entertained 15 others at the Spartan Invitational on Tuesday, April 11, at Heritage Hills Golf Course.
The Spartans finished fifth in the large-school division known as Group One, fueled by Isaac Stoneking’s 85. The team carded a 359 composite.
“I thought we played decent golf,” Moberly head boys’ golf coach Jared Van Cleve said. “We seem to struggle a bit more at home compared to other courses.”
While the Spartans played behind North Central Missouri Conference rivals Hannibal and Kirksville, their team total was well within Van Cleve’s expected range for them.
Stoneking has proven to be a model of consistency so far this season, and the Spartan Invitational was another instance. He carded a front-nine 42, and scored 43 on the back, with five pars and one birdie.
Nick Kessler also came through for Moberly during the tournament, with back-to-back birdies on Holes No. 7 and No. 8, and another one on the finishing hole.
Gage St. Clair and Javaughn Briscoe provided Moberly with counted scores of 86 and 102, respectively.
Salisbury, with a formidable lineup this year, was moved into the large-school division.
The Panthers competed well, with Nolan Gordon carding a 73 (shooting 1-under par 35 on the back nine) for second place among individuals. Jaxon Green also picked up a medal with a 78.
Westran was moved down into the small-school division, and Aidan Brockleman earned medalist honors with an 80. Brockleman put together a three-over 39 on the front nine.
“Aidan played his best golf, up to this point, of his high school career,” Westran head coach Jeff Schleicher noted. “He earned medals at three tournaments in three day, including a No. 1 finish. I am very proud of his productive week. I’m looking forward to a strong finish going forward.”
Logan Brown also played well for the Hornets with a 92, including a front-nine 41.
The Spartan Invitational serves as a fundraiser for the golf program. Local businesses are hole sponsors, a thankful Van Cleve reported.
Stoneking medalist
BROOKFIELD — Isaac Stoneking was overall medalist for the first time in his scholastic career on Thursday at the Brookfield Invitational.
“Isaac put together the round he has been looking for,” Van Cleve said. “He was able to string together eight pars and two birdies.”
Van Cleve noted Stoneking was fitted for a new shaft, and his short game and punch shots helped him at Brookfield Country Club.
Stoneking scored 39 on the front nine and followed with a 40 on the back for a 79, two strokes lower than Brookfield’s Cooper Clarkson and Macon golfers Britton Wineinger and Hagen Ritter.
INFORMATION
BOYS GOLF
Spartan Invitational
At Heritage Hills, Moberly
Tuesday, April 11
Group One
Team Standings
1, Hannibal, 319; 2, Salisbury, 324; 3, Boonville, 330; 4, Kirksville, 332; 5, Moberly, 359; 6, Jefferson City, 386; 7t, Fulton, 390; 7t, Mexico, 390
Top Golfers
1, Zach Espey, Boonville, 72; 2, Nolan Gordon, Salisbury, 73; 3t, Quinn Thomas, Hannibal, 74; 3t, Kyle Locke, Hannibal, 74; 5t, Brooks Poulsen, Boonville, 78; 5t, Jaxon Green, Salisbury, 78; 7, Junter Combs, Kirksville, 79; 8, Jack Parker, Hannibal, 83
Moberly Scores
Isaac Stoneking, 42-43-85; Nick Kessler, 44-42-86; Gage St. Clair, 46-40-86; Javaghn Briscoe, 47-55-102; Carter Ross, 53-55-108
Salisbury Scores
Nolan Gordon, 38-35-73; Jaxon Green, 40-38-78; Elliot Carter, 44-42-86; Tyson Parker, 44-43-87; Jace Carter, 46-50-96
Group Two
Team Standings
1, Milan, 354; 2, Harrisburg, 380; 3, Brookfield, 387; 4, Paris, 401; 5, Schuyler County, 417; 6, Glasgow, 426; 7, Westran, 450; 8, Slater, 520
Top Golfers
1, Aidan Brockleman, Westran, 80; 2, Taylor Trenter, Milan, 82; 3, Cooper Clark, Milan, 84; 4, Daren Deporto, Milan, 87; 5, Cooper Clarkson, Brookfield, 87; 6, Aiden Grindstaff, Harrisburg, 91; 7t, Ethan Blessing, Scotland County, 93; 7t, Kai Wiedeman, Brookfield, 93
Westran Scores
Aidan Brockleman, 39-41-80; Logan Brown, 41-51-92; Carter Dean, 63-49-112; Matthew Hopper, 85-81-166