Blair Bears golfer Jack Schroeder followed up the finest round of his high school career with an encore.
After carding 81 strokes during the Waverly Invite on May 13, the senior added just 81 more Monday during the Class B District 2 Tournament at York Country Club. The 11-over par effort earned him 10th overall and an NSAA State Championships qualification.
“I am so pumped,” BHS coach Ross Udey said.
Schroeder's round helped keep Blair's total under 400 strokes as it claimed 11th with 399, while Fort Calhoun finished 12th with 441. York (319 swings), Elkhorn Mount Michael (326) and Elkhorn (328) finished first through third, securing team qualifications to state, too.
Schroeder will see the Dukes, Knights and Antlers in Gering for 36 holes next Wednesday through Thursday during the Class B tournament. It'll be played at Monument Shadows Golf Course.
The BHS representative said he earned his spot by not letting bad holes get to him and riding the momentum off of made par putts. He finished even on nine holes altogether and never carded anything worse than a 2-over par double bogey.
“I just started playing smarter,” Schroeder said, noting how he avoided risky moves for safe plays.
Coach Udey said the senior is solid off of the tee box and good with his irons, but can still shave some strokes off of his scores in the short game. Multiple putts just lipped out of York Country Club holes Monday.
Even so, Schroeder was good enough, besting 50 other golfers for his Class B qualification.
“He's got such a sweet swing,” Udey said.
The Bear didn't play golf as a junior, but went out this season to have fun.
“For some reason, I just got better,” he said.
In addition to Schroeder's 81, Blair's Nolan Wolfe and Justin Bird added 105 strokes apiece to their team's total. Degan Dresden finished with 108 swings, too, while Jacob Hanson carded an 18-hole 123.
The district tourney in York ended most of the Bears' seasons, but not Schroeder's after he replicated his career-best score for the second-straight tournament.
Pioneers card 441 swings
While Blair earned one state spot during the B-2 Tournament, the Fort Calhoun season ended at York Country Club on Monday.
“I thought the season went well,” coach Dusin Humphrey said after 18 holes and the long drive home. “We did have many lower scores than we have had in the past, and it was a little disappointing the way it ended.”
The Pioneers finished district play with 441 strokes — many above its tournament average this season.
“The kids said the course was tough for them, and their swings just were not cooperating today,” Humphrey said.
Beau Ruma shot FCHS' low score, finishing with 100 strokes. He carded 48 swings on the first nine holes he played, Nos. 10-18, before adding 52 across the last nine.
Caden Newman, meanwhile, finished with 112 strokes and Adam Elofson had 114. Tysen Sunderman added 115 swings, too, while Korbin Klein had 118.
Overall, it was a successful Fort Calhoun season, but the Pioneers still have a long ways to go, Coach Humphrey said.
“I expected more out of them at districts,” he added. “But I think the pressure of the day got to a few of them and, hopefully, we can learn from this for next year.”
CLASS B DISTRICT 2 TOURNAMENT
Monday at York Country Club, York
Team standings (top-3 qualify for state): York 319 strokes, Elkhorn Mount Michael 326, Elkhorn 328, Omaha Gross 331, Gering 332, Omaha Skutt 336, Hastings 359, Beatrice 365, Omaha Roncalli 365, Douglas County West 384, Blair 399, Fort Calhoun 441.
Top-10 individuals: 1, Jaxson Hinze, York, 65 strokes. 2, Grady Friedrichsen, Elkhorn, 72. 3, John Maser, Gering, 74. 4, Ian Scott, Mount Michael, 75. 5, Zach Alt, York, 79. 6, Trevor Ross, Gross, 80. 7, Benjamin Weber, Mount Michael, 80. 8, Brody Brummer, Elkhorn, 81. 9, Nathan Seiler, Gering, 81. 10, Jack Schroeder, Blair, 81.
Blair results: Schroeder 81 strokes, Nolan Wolfe 105, Justin Bird 105, Degan Dresden 108, Jacob Hanson 123.
Fort Calhoun results: Beau Ruma 100 strokes, Caden Newman 112, Adam Elofson 114, Tysen Sunderman 115, Korbin Klein 118.
