Green Devil boys and girls win golf triangular hosted by Comets

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Two things are assured during the course of a high school spring golf season.

The days will get longer and the play will get shorter.

The Charles City Comets boys and girls golf teams hosted a season-opening triangular with guests Nashua-Plainfield and Osage. Though the varsity and junior varsity teams only played nine holes, when all the scores finally made it to the clubhouse, it was a chip shot away from twilight.

Cedar Ridge Golf Course, emerging from a prolonged winter, was used in its full capacity as shots were attempted from all angles whenever balls frequently strayed from the fairway.

No doubt, scores will get lower when the rust and inclement weather subside. But some golfers were already in good form.

Osage senior Leo Klapperich, who tied for seventh at last year’s Class 2A Boys Golf State Tournament, shot a medalist nine-hole score of 39 to lead the Green Devils to a win in the boys triangular. With Klapperich’s sophomore teammate Isaac Houdek carding a 41 followed by senior Bodie Goddard (43) and sophomore Heath Voigt (45), Osage’s score of 168 was 23 strokes lower than runner-up Charles City.

The Comets were led by senior Gage Kilby and sophomore Riley Perez, who both shot 46s. Junior Gabe Rogstad (47) and freshman Bryce Walker (52) rounded out the scoring for Charles City.

Nashua-Plainfield, which was led by Dawson Glaser’s 53, scored 224 as a team.

Osage also won the girls triangular with junior Leah Hauge (54), senior Sydney Muller (59), senior Melanie Bruesewitz (60) and senior Joryn Hanson (64) having their scores marked for a 237.

Nashua-Plainfield sophomore Paige Franzen earned medalist honors with a 50 while helping her team place second (240).

Charles City’s two returning All-Northeast Iowa Conference golfers, senior Shelby Effle and junior Claire Girkin, shot respective scores of 55 and 57 placing them third and fourth among individuals behind Franzen and Hauge.

Rounding out the scoring for Charles City were juniors Alex Wohlers and Olivia Kreger, who both carded 66s.