The first step on the road to the Class 1A state boys golf meet happens Wednesday, and three KCII area teams are shooting for district bids at sectionals in North English. Hillcrest Academy, Lone Tree and Sigourney will be among those in action today at Knoll Ridge Country Club. The Ravens enter play with a 28-0 record, standing at No. 8 in the Varsity Bound Class 1A power rankings. Hillcrest has been dominant all season, but especially in the last week, winning the program’s first ever Southeast Iowa Superconference championship by nearly 30 strokes, led by conference runner-up Luke Schrock’s 77, while putting four players in the top seven. Saturday, they went to Donnellson and won the Central Lee Invitational with a season best team score of 316 for 18-holes, led by champion Rowan Miller’s 75 and runner-up Jace Rempel’s 76. They closed their perfect regular season Monday with their season best 157 team score for nine holes, in a dual win over Lone Tree, with Miller’s 37 leading the way. This year the Ravens have a team average of 319 per 18-holes, led by Miller’s 77. Hillcrest has qualified for districts as a team the last two seasons.
Lone Tree enters the fray with a 4-30 record this year. They shot 231 as a team Monday at Kalona in their loss to Hillcrest to finish the regular season, led by Oliver Altenhofen with a 48. The Lions are 74th in Class 1A according to the latest Varsity Bound power rankings.
Sigourney is 14-12 this year. The Savages played Monday at the South Iowa Cedar League Championship meet. Sigourney finished second as a team, powered by individual SICL champion Clay Morse and conference runner-up Solon Yates. The Savages check in at No. 32 in the Varsity Bound 1A power rankings. They have a team average of 352 for 18-holes led by Morse at 80. Sigourney has qualified for districts each of the last two seasons.
Joining these teams today are No. 32 BGM, No. 37 English Valleys, No. 63 Iowa City Regina, and No. 103 Tri-County. Action starts at 10a.m. and continues into the afternoon and evening in North English.