Ratzlaff, Huskies win conference titles
Focus shifts toward district golf meet Monday
by Kurt Johnson
The temperature heated up as the day went by Saturday, and so too did the Aurora Huskies, winning the Central Conference golf tournament by seven strokes.
The margin of victory in the team race, by no small coincidence, was exactly the same as the number of strokes between medalist Eric Ratzlaff and the rest of the field. The Husky senior played his best round of the season, carding a 2-over on the front side in what started out near-freezing conditions, then coming home with an even par 35 to finish with a 72.
“I’d say the highlight today was Eric shooting 37-35 and then the other four players behind him backing it up with some pretty low scores,” said Coach Dick Binfield. “They showed some signs of struggle a little bit, but they kept their focus.”
The Huskies earned four of the 15 medals on their home course and lost out on a scorecard countback or would have had a fifth. Ryan Grossnicklaus was eighth with an 81, Cam Moyer 10th at 82 and Tyler McDonald 12th at 83. Connor Jensen was one back, tied with two others at 84.
All five Huskies posted lower scores on the second loop at the Aurora Country Club, a good sign that could help boost the team’s confidence heading into postseason play.
“There were a couple of them who were kind of down,” Binfield observed. “Obviously they are elated they came back. You just have to be tough all the way around for 18 holes. That’s what impressed me is the way they came back and finished strong.”
The two through five players needed 40 strokes on the back nine, while Ratzlaff was cruising, finishing with a birdie to card an impressive 35.
“I hit some pretty good chips and it just turned into a lot of pars and a few birdies,” he said. “This was my best tournament overall. I just had everything going.”
The day before the meet it looked like low scores would be out of the question, as snow was falling and the temperatures were in the 20s. The sky was blue and clear Saturday morning, though the day started out very cold.
“We made a decision yesterday to move (the start) back an hour because they were saying frost this morning,” Binfield noted. “It was cold. I suppose it was 38 or 39 when we started and you just have to have enough equipment with you to stay warm and play through the elements.”
The wind kicked up as the day went on, but the temperature kept rising and by the end of the day it was fairly warm.
The Huskies played solid golf earlier in the week at the Grand Island Central Catholic Invite on a familiar Jackrabbit Run course. Aurora posted a 326 to finish tied for third.
“That too was a very cold tournament,” Binfield noted. “The competition was tough with St. Cecilia and Gibbon in the field, but I think our guys played pretty well.”
Ratzlaff and Grossnicklaus tied for low individual score with 79s, while Moyer posted an 83, McDonald an 85 and Jensen 86.
District tourney Monday
The Huskies have a dual on the card this week with York, then will turn the focus toward the all-important district meet Monday at Southern Hills in Hastings. The team will play a practice round on the course Thursday, hoping to finish in the top three and qualify for the two-day state tournament in Lincoln.
“There are some good teams in our district, but we can hold our own with them,” Binfield said. “We just have to have a good performance out of everybody.”
This Husky team remembers last year’s district outing well, though it’s a painful memory. Aurora was tied for third after regulation play, but lost a playoff, and a bid for state, by a single stroke.
“I think especially from my memory I need to play a lot smarter in the district tournament,” Ratzlaff noted. “I took too many gambles on the back nine last year and it hurt us. We all have the ability to play well and I know we can end up in the top three.”
The district field will include Aurora, Hastings Adams Central, Grand Island Northwest, York, Central City, Fairbury, Holdrege, Hastings, Minden, Seward and Crete.
The Class B state golf tournament will be played this year at Pioneer Golf Course May 20-21.
CONFERENCE MEET
Team scores: Aurora, 318; York, 325; GINW, 330; Seward, 343; Columbus Lakeview, 346; Central City, 352; Holdrege, 358; Fairbury, 360; Schuyler, 375; Crete, 375.
Individual medalists: 1. Eric Ratzlaff, Aurora, 72; 2. Matt Hansen, York, 79; 3. Lee Horky, Fairbury, 79; 4. Preston Burk, York, 79; 5. Ben Clausen, Central City, 80; 6. Greg Pohlman, Columbus Lakeview, 80; 7. Max Luber, GINW, 80; 8. Ryan Grossnicklaus, Aurora, 81; 9. Mike Winder, GINW, 82; 10. Cam Moyer, Aurora, 82; 11. Titus Tvrdy, Seward, 83; 12. Tyler McDonald, Aurora, 83; 13. Preston Jacobe, York, 83; 14. Nate Cox, GINW, 83; 15. Tommy Dornish, Columbus Lakeview, 84.
Aurora scores: Eric Ratzlaff, 37-35 -- 72; Ryan Grossnicklaus, 41-40 -- 81; Cam Moyer, 42-40 -- 82; Tyler McDonald, 43-40 -- 83; Connor Jensen, 44-40 -- 84.