Men's golf Oct. 4, 2008

Townsend wins Ryerson Fall Classic

PELLA—Central College junior Andrew Townsend (Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) overcame challenging conditions and rallied to take medalist honors at the Ryerson Fall Classic men’s golf tourney Saturday. Townsend shot a 3-under-par 69 at the Copper Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill Friday and entered Saturday’s round at Pella’s Bos Landen Golf Club in third place. He came back with a 78 to finish at 147 and score a 2-stroke win over Simon Lockhart and Justin Weber of Indian Hills.  

“I’m extremely proud of Andrew,” coach Charlie Estabrook said. “He had a tough final day in Minnesota last weekend  and it was great to see him come back and get his first collegiate win.”

Indian Hills, ranked No. 2 in the national junior college poll, took first place in the 12-team tourney with 287-314—601 with Central second at 292-319—611. Central’s second team, the White squad, was fourth at 628 with the Black team fifth at 633 and the Gray team sixth at 645, followed by Graceland at 675 and Grinnell at 695.

Freshman Brent Goodenow (Johnston) shot 70-80—150 to place fourth while Andy Petersen (senior, Davenport, West HS) had the low round of the day, tying for eighth at 78-76—154. Jason Harvey (sophomore, Goldfield, Clarion-Goldfield HS) tied for 17th at 76-85—161 and Justin Smool (junior, Bagley, Panorama HS) shot 77-86—163.

Joel Winters (junior, Hampton, Hampton-Dumont HS) tied for sixth, leading the White team at 72-81—153 with Matt Stock (junior, Queen City, Mo., Schuyler County HS) 13th at 73-84—157.

Matt Vegter (freshman, Morrison, Ill.) led the Black team with his strongest collegiate showing, finishing fifth at 75-77—152, followed by Russell Katz (freshman, Chicago, Ill., Downers Grove North HS).

“We’ve been waiting for Matt Vegter to come around,” Estabrook said. “We knew he was a good golfer and he played really well this weekend.”

Ryan Swenson (freshman, Williams, Northeast Hamilton HS) was the Gray team leader, tying for 17th at 77-84—161 with Josh Baker (junior, Conyers, Ga.,  Heritage HS) tied for 23rd at 86-77—163.

“For what looked like a gorgeous day, Bos (Landen) played extremely tough,” Estabrook said. “The wind was blowing hard and the greens were dry and very fast. There were a lot of 3-putts. It made the day very frustrating and mentally draining.

“But Andy Petersen came back pretty strong. A 76 was a darn good score today.”

Central’s White and Black squads compete Tuesday in the William Penn JV Invitational at Oskaloosa. But the Dutch first unit is off until the Oglethorpe Royal Lakes Invitational at Flowery Branch, Ga. Oct. 21-23, which wraps up the fall season. The tourney traditionally features several of the nation’s top NCAA Division III teams. Central was ninth in a 12-team field at Oglethorpe last fall.