Jock Talk

A touch of Fall is in the air, but this might be the very best time of the year to play golf in Western Nebraska as well. Lots of golf happenings to still report on, and in fact, the Kimball High girl’s golf team, all two of them, tee off this week. They were scheduled to play at Sidney this past Tuesday, are at Bayard today (Thursday), and will host the Western Trails Conference tournament this coming Tuesday at the Four Winds with a 9 a.m. start.

Coach Katie Culek is working with a pair of juniors this season including Lila More and Leisha Casimiro. One thing for certain, these two young ladies will get a lot of hands-on instruction in learning this life-long activity.

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Four Winds Pro Chad Wise has released the format for the next golf happening at the Four Winds. It is the Four Winds Golf Course Fundraiser One Person Scramble. Get registered now for this scramble set for Sept. 3 with tee times from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Best to find a favorite partner to play with as you will both be playing two balls, for the most part at least. Chad said it might work for three golfers to play in a group.

Each golfer is allowed to play two balls and use the best shot until the ball is holed. Ladies will play from the red tees, ages 70 to 79 from the white, 80 and up from the red tees, and everyone else from the blue tees. Each golfer will pay green fees and cart if needed. $10 goes to the course and $10 towards prizes. Should be a fun time for all.

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The Four Winds Men are closing out their season and had a final fun Night Scramble this past Monday evening, complete with a Cream Can dinner provided by Bob Culek and Klent Schnell. A total of 24 golfers were paired into six 4-man teams. The winning team of Josh Enevoldsen, Bob Culek, Marty Lantzer, Roger Dohse shot a round of 30 on the front nine play. One stroke back at 31 was the second place team of Aaron Koski, Leo O’Hare, Steve Warner, Jim Young. Two teams tied for 3rd place and was decided by score card playoff with third place honors going to Kevin Thomas, Barry Frederick, Joe Fennell, Klent Schnell with their round of 32. Also shooting 32 was the team of Adrian Fuss, Randy Bohac, Jay Fennell, Charlie Carlson. Also finishing out of the money were the 5th and 6th place teams with both shooting 33.

Playoff for the League titles will be held this coming week and the Monday night league champions are Terry Lovesee and Keith Prunty who will take on the Tuesday night league champs, Marty Lantzer and Brett Belgum. Play was tight in both the Monday and Tuesday night leagues this year with the Monday night champs finishing just one point ahead of Adrian Fuss and Josh Enevoldsen and the Tuesday night league was decided by a mere half point with Randy Bohac and Kevin Thomas taking second place.

Four Winds League President, Pat O’Brien, said they have extended play a bit this year to include all members who are interested to play on out, Ryder Cup style, with Monday teams meeting Tuesday team opponents one more time either Monday or Tuesday of the upcoming week. The two top teams will also be deciding the overall championship then also.

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Hunter Thompson, the outstanding young basketball player from Pine Bluffs was down last week to play some golf at the Four Winds and I had the opportunity to talk a bit with him. He has had a busy summer playing All Star Basketball all over the country.

Earlier I had reported that he committed to play his college ball at Creighton but Hunter said he is now re-thinking his options and may end up somewhere else, like Wyoming perhaps. In the meantime, the Pine Bluffs Hornets get him for one more season.

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The Star Herald came out with their All Region Track and Field selections recently and Kimball had some tracksters make the coveted list. Jaden Withrow was first team in the triple jump and third team in the long jump. Trent Rutledge was first team in the pole vault. Withrow was a candidate for Comeback Athlete of the Year after coming back from a serious knee injury suffered in football last fall. Larry Pahl was named Volunteer of the Year as the long time teacher/coach came out of retirement to coach Kimball High’s high jumpers and really improved that event according to head coach Gene Mohr who nominated him. Kimball’s only selection in the girl’s division was Hannah Biesecker as the first team long jumper.

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Last but not least, Kimball High football kicks off tonight (Thursday) with the Longhorns traveling to North Platte to take on Centura. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Mountain Time. There is JV football on the schedule with Burns coming to Kimball Monday evening for a 6 p.m. kickoff.