By ALAN HOSKINS
Freshmen Evan White and Collin Herron got the 2012-13 Kansas City Kansas Community College golf season off to a spectacular start as they teamed up to win the Independence Community College Invitational Best Ball Tournament Sunday and Monday.
A freshman from Cassville, Mo., White turned in the tournament’s best 27-hole total with rounds of 34-36-37-107 while Herron, an Ozawkie resident who graduated from Topeka Hayden, had a 37-39-38-114 as the two combined for a best ball score of 103.
Teams from Independence and Colby tied for second in the tourney that drew 20 teams including four from the Jayhawk Conference, Allen County, Coffeyville, Colby and Indy.
Two other Blue Devil freshmen, Zach Fate and Kellen Brandt, both of Holton, finished fifth with a 107 best ball score while sophomores Nick Cavlovic of Piper and Michael Civitate of Camdenton, Mo ,were two strokes farther back at 109.
Freshman Peter Yadrich of Piper and Christian Blake of Basehor-Linwood, were one more shot back at 110 with another freshmen duo, Kody Campbell of Tonganoxie and Kody Kaufman of Drexel, finishing at 111.
“For the most part we were able to keep the ball in play,” said KCKCC Coach Gary Shrader. “The Independence Country Club course is not long but tree-lined so it’s important to leave the driver in the bag and keep the ball out of trouble.”
With eight freshmen on an 11-man squad that Shrader calls one of his best young teams in recent years, the Blue Devil mentor said the two-man format was an ideal way to start the season.
“With eight freshmen playing their first college tournament, playing as two-man teams made it less intimidating,” said Shrader. “Also, I’ll be able to use it as a qualifier for the start of the conference season.”
The Blue Devils open the Jayhawk Conference season with a designated tournament at Hesston Sept. 9-10.
Kansas City Kansas Community College: 2012 Golf Schedule
Sept. 9-10 – Jayhawk Designated, Hesston
Sept. 16-18 – Indian Hills, Ottumwa, Iowa
Sept. 23-24 – Jayhawk Designated, Auburn Hills, Wichita
Oct. 1 – William Woods, Fulton, Mo.
Oct. 7-8 – Jayhawk Designated, Manhattan Country Club
Oct. 15-16 – Blue Devil Classic, Dub’s Dread
Oct. 21-23 – National Preview, Newton
Oct. 29-30 – Iowa-Kansas Clash, Dub’s Dread
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PHOTO: With eight freshmen, KCKCC Coach Gary Shrader has assembled one of his most promising Blue Devil golf teams in recent years. Team members are (from left) Kellen Brandt, Kody Campbell, Kody Kaufman, Zach Fate, Nick Cavlovic, Collin Herron, Evan White, Christian Blake, Michael Civitate and Peter Yadrich. Cavlovic and Civitate are the only sophomores. (KCKCC Photo)
