Blair senior golfer Bode Soukup took his time on the ninth green at River Wilds Golf Course.
After starting on the fifth hole Friday during the Bennington/Blair Invitational, he felt it was necessary to make his first putt there even with 13 holes left to go.
“I really needed that,” Soukup said after sinking it.
In the end, coach Ross Udey's lead Bear earned the Bear Division with just 79 strokes — 7-over par. The 18-hole score was just one more than the winning total of the Badger Division during the 22-team tournament.
Altogether, though, BHS finished seventh out of 12 teams in its division with 386 strokes. Fort Calhoun notched 429 for 11th, while the Bears' second lineup finished with 443 for 12th.
The Bennington Black (352 strokes in the Bear) and Elkhorn North (320 in the Badger) won their respective divisions, while Calvin Zabloudil of Gretna East shot the tourney-low — 78 strokes — along with Omaha Skutt's Aaron Romance and North's Zach Biegert.
It was Soukup, though, who led the true home team at River Wilds.
“I wish I could stay on the fairway on my drives,” Soukup said after his putt on No. 9. “The rough is pretty thick today, but, 3-over through five (holes), I guess I'll take it.”
He looked forward to the rest of the day and delivered, producing the Bears' top finish by 17 swings. Second was Justin Bird, who shot a 96 for the junior varsity lineup, while Degan Dresden finished with 97 swings Friday.
Jaxson Doolin added 98 Blair strokes and Jase Lantry had 106. Rylan Blattert added 110, Nolan Wolfe had 122 and Tyler Wolsman took 127 swings.
Will Madsen carded a 135, too.
Fort Calhoun's Owen Miller, meanwhile, led coach Dustin Humphrey's squad with 93 strokes. The total was good enough for 22nd overall in the Bear Division.
The senior did it wearing short sleeves on a cool day at River Wilds.
“The wind's a little chilly, but it's OK,” he said with a smile after sinking a putt on hole No. 17.
The Pioneer didn't love his start about midway through his round.
“It's a little rocky,” Miller said. “But I've got another nine (holes).”
His total wound up five better than Adam Elofson, who produced FCHS' second-best score — 98 strokes. Jayden Miller notched 112 swings, too, while Beau Ruma finished with 126 and Caden Newman shot a 129.
The Pioneers next compete 9:30 a.m. Wednesday during the North Bend Central Invitational, while the Blair Bears play Tiburon Golf Club today for the Omaha Skutt Invitational. The first tee time is 9 a.m.
Arlington was initially set to compete during the Blair/Bennington Invitational, but pulled out due to scheduling conflicts after the tournament was postponed by three days due to weather. The Eagles were set to play Monday at Platteview Country Club and next compete Wednesday alongside FCHS.
Bears play Thursday, too
Less than 24 hours before they played 18 holes at River Wilds, BHS played nine during a triangular there Thursday.
The Bears were third to Elkhorn North (157 strokes) and Tekamah-Herman (182) with 197 strokes. Soukup led Coach Udey's team with 42 strokes, while Connor Wayman finished with 49, and both Tyler Lantry and Aaron Hinman had 53. Dresden carded 55 swings, too.
In junior varsity play, Blattert led Blair with 58 strokes. Wyatt Loftis and Israel Tinoco carded 60 apiece, while Carter Miller had 66 and Landon Holtz notched 70.
Udey noted the efforts of his assistant coach, Rachel Brown, during the triangular.
“She is doing a lot of work with the kids,” he said.
BENNINGTON/BLAIR INVITATIONAL
Friday at River Wilds Golf Club
BEAR DIVISION
Team standings: Bennington Black 352 strokes, Douglas County West 352, Logan View 363, West Point-Beemer 364, Oakland-Craig 370, Plattsmouth 384, Blair Varsity 386, Bennington Gray 402, Louisville 426, Platteview 426, Fort Calhoun 429, Blair Purple 443.
Top-5 Individuals: 1, Bode Soukup, 79 strokes. 2, Zach Johnson, West Point, 81. 3, Colton Meduna, DC West, 84. 4, Parker Reimers, Bennington Black, 85. 5, Kolton Kriete, Logan View, 87.
Blair varsity results: Soukup 79 strokes, Degan Dresden 97, Jase Lantry 106, Rylan Blattert 110, Will Madsen 135.
Blair JV results: Justin Bird 96, Jaxson Doolin 98, Nolan Wolfe 122, Tyler Wolsman 127.
Fort Calhoun results: Owen Miller 93 strokes, Adam Elofson 98, Jayden Miller 112, Beau Ruma 126, Caden Newman 129.
BADGER DIVISION
Team standings: Elkhorn North 320 strokes, Bennington White 327, Bennington Blue 328, Gretna East 330, Elkhorn 331, Elkhorn Mount Michael 343, Gretna 351, Omaha Skutt 360, Omaha Concordia 399, Wayne 454.
Top-5 Individuals: 1, Clavin Zabloudil, Gretna East, 78 strokes. 2, Aaron Romance, Skutt, 78. 3, Zach Biegert, Elkhorn North, 78. 4, Jax Gifford, Bennington White, 79. 5, Reid Thornburg, Bennington White, 79.
