drive Oct. 2, 2009

Central splashes to tourney lead

VIDEO: Coach Charlie Estabrook

PELLA—Justin Smool (senior, Bagley, Panorama HS) and Drew Osier (freshman, Austin, Minn.) overcame rainy, cold conditions to fire 76 and share the first-round men’s golf lead at Central College’s Ryerson Fall Classic.

Smool helped Central’s first unit, the Red team, shoot 312 and build a 17-shot advantage over Central’s second and third teams, the White and Black squads, which each shot 329. Kirkwood is fourth at 331 with Simpson at 337, Graceland at 340 and William Penn is at 360.

“In these conditions, a 312 is pretty darn good,” coach Charlie Estabrook said.

Andrew Townsend (senior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) is third with 77 on the par-72 Bos Landen Golf Club. Also on Central’s first team are Alex Huyser (junior, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) in a tie for fifth at 79, Chris Crawford (junior, Conrad, BCLUW HS) in a tie for seventh at 80 and Jason Harvey (junior, Goldfield, Clarion-Goldfield HS) in a tie for 13th at 82.

Matt Stock (junior, Queen City, Mo., Schuyler County HS) followed Osier for the White team and is tied for ninth at 81. Brent Messmore (freshman, Hudson) led the Black team with 78 and is tied for fourth. Ben Bohlender (sophomore, Indianola)  is tied for ninth at 81.

At-large entrant CJ Gason (sophomore, Keosauqua, Van Buren HS) is tied for fifth at 79.

“As the day wore on, conditions got worse,” Estabrook said. “We turned the front nine in 2-over but then it got windier and started raining harder.

“But the players’ attitudes were great. I didn’t hear any of our guys complain about the conditions. They were excited to play golf.”

The 36-hole tournament concludes Saturday.