Pre-Region 3A: Mitchell Christian looking to improve by regional

Despite a sixth-place finish in the 3A pre-region golf meet held Monday at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell, Mitchell Christian coach Mike Rieck said his team believes it is in the hunt for a top-three finish in next week’s region tournament and a berth to the state tournament.

“We had mixed results (in the pre-regionals),” Rieck said of the warm-up tournament. “If we do what we know we can do, we’ll be fighting for that third slot. The guys are really trying to strive for that.”

Mitchell Christian finished with a team score of 378 Monday to finish sixth in the seven-team region. Parkston won the meet with a 324, while Chamberlain took second with a 335 with the help of Coleman Caldwell, who won the individual title with a round of 71. Leading the way for Mitchell Christian was Adam Bleeker, who finished in second place with a 76. Rieck said Bleeker would like to win the regional meet, but added Caldwell is the favorite.

“Coleman’s playing really well,” Rieck said. “When you watch him play, he’s very solid.

“A lot of people think that he just hits the ball a long ways, which he does, but he’s more of a complete player.”

Caldwell was pleased with his 71, but felt he could shoot a 65 at Lakeview.

“I got myself into trouble on a couple of holes and my putting really saved me,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell claimed his second championship at Lakeview this year, taking first place at the Parkston Invitational on Sept. 4 with a round of 72.

Caldwell said he is confident heading into the regional tournament he can shoot another solid round and come away with another first-place finish.

“I feel really confident,” he said. “Playing this course twice already and having two good rounds, hopefully it will just get better.”

Mitchell Christian’s second-best finisher on the day was Jackson Feiner. Feiner finished in 18th place with a round of 92 after struggling on the front nine. Feiner carded a 49 at the turn before shooting a 43 on the back nine.

“It was a good sight to see that I turned it around the second nine,” Feiner said. “It’s a good confidence boost to do well in pre-region, but we’ve got a week to prepare for the region meet and hopefully I can do better then.

“I want to shoot in the 80s and help our team get to state.”

Rieck felt good about his team’s chances after seeing a couple of Mitchell Christian golfers bounce back with solid scores on the back nine. Adam Rasmussen’s second nine was eight strokes better than his first for Mitchell Christian.

“Rasmussen had really a horrific front nine but finished really strong,” Rieck said. “He made a couple adjustments and started playing really well.”

The Region 3A tournament begins at 9 a.m. Monday at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell. The top three team scores qualify for the state tournament as well as the top 55 percent of the field. The Class A state tournament begins on Oct. 1 in Spearfish.

Pre-Region 3A golf meet

Monday at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell

Team scores: 1. Parkston 324; 2. Chamberlain 335; 3. Winner 351; 4. Bon Homme 365; 5. Mobridge-Pollock 375; 6. Mitchell Christian 378; 7. Todd County 382.

Individual results: 1. Coleman Caldwell, Chamberlain, 71; 2. Adam Bleeker, MCHS, 76; 3. Ty Kinneberg, Parkston, 78; 4. Garret Hohn, Parkston, 78; 5. Lane Shrayer, Chamberlain, 79; 6. Jayden Bruun, Winner, 80; 7. Jake Weber, Parkston, 81; 8. Luke Jedlicki, Winner, 86; 9. Jacob Lee, Parkston, 87; 10. David Jensen, Mobridge-Pollock; 88; 11. Eric Looyenga, Mobridge-Pollock, 90; 12. Anthony Bizandie, TC, 90; 13. Alec Johnson, BH, 90; 14. Tyler Kaul, BH, 91; 15. Ryan Alley, Parkston, 91; 16. Landon Engel, Winner, 91; 17. Tiegen Priebe, Chamberlain, 91; 18. Jackson Feiner, MCHS, 92; 19. Andrew Roland, BH, 92; 20. Tucker Peschl, BH, 92; 21. Lincoln Stoebner, 92; 22. Buzz Jordan, St. Francis Indian, 94; 23. Luke Stewart, Chamberlain, 94; 24. Garrett Grunlund, Winner, 94; 25. Tyler Villbrandt, MP, 95; 26. Dru Espinoza, TC, 95; 27. Les Jelsma, BH, 95; 28. Alex Scott, Parkston, 95; 29. Wes VanderPol, MCHS, 96; 30. Zac Pederson, Winner, 97; 31. Charles Bad Milk, TC, 98; 32. Tanner Colombe, TC, 99; 33. Adam Hutmacher, Chamberlain, 99; 34. Austin Hutmacher, Chamberlain, 100; 35. Tanner Jerome, MP, 102; 36. Joey Heil, MP, 104; 37. Kenny Helm, MP, 105; 38. Josh Cimpl, Wagner, 107; 39. Sam Hossle, Winner, 112; 40. Adam Rassmussen, MCHS, 114; 41. Bradyn Ward, CEB, 121; 42. Ryan Bordeaux, TC, 124.

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