SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA – Last week the Wheatland boys’ golf team played some great golf at two awesome panhandle courses. On Monday the boys team played in the Scottsbluff Spring Invitational hosted at the Scottsbluff Country Club. The boys shot a team score of 323 and finished second out of 13 teams only behind host team Scottsbluff. The boys were led by Tate Nichols (77) who tied for seventh and Brecken Sandlian (78) who tied for ninth place. They were followed by Dylan Nelson and Matthew Wakkuri who both shot 84 and Cooper Meyer finished with a 95. Since Nebraska’s girls’ golf season is in the fall there were not any Wheatland girls competing.

“Getting an opportunity to get an invite to this event is a step in the right direction for our boy’s program. The Scottbluff High School golf program has an excellent coaching staff, and they traditionally turn out solid teams year after year. This year their veteran team is one of the front-runners to win the Class B Nebraska Golf Championship, so for us to place second to them on their home course shows that we are heading in the right direction,” Coach Tony Nichols said. We were also grateful to play at the Scottsbluff Country Club on a beautiful spring day. From the hosts to the course conditions, the event was top notch. The course was very demanding with tight, tree-lined fairways and firm, fast greens that punish you if you miss in the wrong spots. I was very proud of our effort on a course we never get to see.”

“We had two players break 80 on a difficult course which helped us take second. It was nice to see Brecken continue his strong play this spring season by adjusting to the greens right away to shoot a 78,” Nichols added.

Torrington Spring Invite

On Friday the golfers were at the Torrington Spring Invite at the Cottonwood Golf Course. The boys took first place to win their second tournament of the spring. Leading the team was junior Dylan Nelson who fired his lowest competitive round of 73 to finish in second place. He was followed by Tate Nichols (77) who tied for third, Brecken Sandlian (82) who tied for seventh, Matthew Wakkuri (85), and Timmy Philo (105). On the girls’ side Haylee Nelson shot 97 to finish in fifth place.

“The tournament in Torrington was one that tested every player that teed it up. From the moment we got there the wind was relentless and blew a minimum of 30 miles per hour non-stop the entire round. Thankfully, the temperature hovered in the mid-50’s and there was no moisture. Otherwise, the course would have been unplayable. With that said, our golfers battled through the conditions and really put up some solid scores,” Nichols added, “Dylan’s round of 73 was very impressive in those conditions. He was able to keep the ball low off the tee and on his approach shots which left his ball in good spots all day. It was so windy that he even adjusted his chip and pitch shots so they would be in the air for as little time as possible. That definitely is the recipe for shooting a stellar round in those conditions.”