Justin Smool May 2, 2009

Central captures record 27th league crown

INDIANOLA—Central College placed all five players in the top 10 and captured a record 27th Iowa Conference men’s golf championship Saturday.      

The Dutch posted a decisive 21-shot victory with 313-301-290-297—1201. Defending champion and tournament favorite Luther College was second with 309-306-309-298—1222 and Wartburg College was third at 328-304-302-306—1240. The final two rounds were played at the par-71 Indianola Country Club after 36 holes at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City last weekend.

With the title comes an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III championships May 12-15 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The Dutch will be making their 28th national tournament appearance. Central’s last league title and NCAA berth came in 2007.

Individually, by finishing in the top 10, all five Central players receive all-conference recognition. It’s the first time a team has done so since the Dutch did it in 1998. Andy Petersen (senior, Davenport, West HS) narrowly missed his third league title. He shot 69-79-74-76—298 and placed third, just a shot out of first. Chris Reck of Wartburg defeated Paul Soener of Luther in a playoff for the title after shooting 78-70-76-73—297.

Central’s Matt Vegter (freshman, Morrison, Ill.) was sixth at 80-76-72-75—303, with Andrew Townsend (junior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) seventh at 84-73-71-76—304. Jason Harvey (sophomore, Goldfield, Clarion-Goldfield HS), who had the day’s best round with a 1-under-par 70, vaulted from a tie for 12th to a tie for eighth with 84-78-73-70—305. He tied Justin Smool (junior, Bagley, Panorama HS), who shot 80-74-75-76—305. Smool, a team co-captain, deferred to Harvey for the eighth-place position and accepted ninth rather than compete with a teammate in a playoff.

“I’m very proud of this team,” said coach Charlie Estabrook, who has piloted the Dutch to six league crowns. 

“One of my personal goals was I wanted Andy (Petersen) to win his third conference title and become only the second player to do that. He certainly deserved to win it three times. But he’s had a great career--and it’s not over yet.

“But my other goal was for all five players to finish in the top 10. It was great to see that happen.

“We’ve talked all year about having all five players contribute and not just rely on one guy. We certainly did that the last two days. It’s a great way to end the regular season.”