March 29, 2024

Hoepker leads SWCC at Viking Classic

Central’s Sickels ties for 27th

POLK CITY — Southwestern joined a strong collegiate golf field in the Viking Classic Monday and Tuesday at Tournament Club of Iowa, hosted by Grand View University.

The event featured 11 colleges from several Midwestern states. Grand View won the event at 283-291 — 574. Southwestern was 11th at 349-327 — 676.

The Spartans were led by freshman Coleton Hoepker of Creston shooting 17-over par 81-78 —159, in a tie for 36th place.

Hunter Sickels of Creston, a member of one of the Central College teams, was tied for 27th at 81-75 — 156. That Central squad was eighth at 320-310 — 630.

SWCC coach Doug North said the tournament showed his team’s mental toughness and flashes of potential to shoot low during the “official” spring season.

“I think the guys were a little intimidated at first,” North said. “We showed some nerves on the first tee on Monday, but that is expected. We are young.”

The Spartan team averaged five strokes a person better on Tuesday than on Monday.

“That goes a long way in showing the mental capacity these young men have to be successful,” North said. “Our scores may not reflect it, but the guys played well for 14 or 15 holes. Everybody just had a few big numbers, which hurt.”

The Spartans wrap up the fall season with the NJCAA Division II National Championship Preview in Plymouth, Ind.

“There will be some familiar faces with Kirkwood being over there, but also some of the best and most consistent juco powerhouse teams will be competing,” North said. “Our goal is to end on a high note. We are in for a long, cold winter and I want my team to be hungry come spring.”

Viking Classic

TCI - Par 71

Team standings — 1. Grand View University 283-291 — 574; 2. Texas Wesleyan University 289-290 — 579; 3. Mount Mercy University 302-289 — 591; 4. Grand View University II 306-299 — 605; 5. Central College 313-300 — 613; 6. William Penn University 305-311 — 616; 7. Northwestern Ohio University 319-305 — 624; 8. Central College II 320-310 — 630; 9. Graceland University 315-316 — 631; 10. Central College III 334-323 — 657; 11. Southwestern Community College 349-327 — 676.

Individual leaders — 1. Leo Mathard, Texas Wesleyan 67-73 — 140; 2. Myles Pfingsten, Grand View, 71-71 — 142; 3. (tie) Matt Killam, Texas Wesleyan, 74-69 — 143; George Long, Mount Mercy, 73-70 — 143; 5. Nate Webb, Grand View, 72-72 — 144.

Central II (630) — 10. (tie) Sev Stoffel 74-74 — 148; 27. (tie) Hunter Sickels 81-75 — 156; 32. Sam Houge 80-78 — 158; 47. (tie) Carter Mallett 85-83 — 168.

SWCC (676) — 33. (tie) Coleton Hoepker 81-78 — 159; 50. (tie) Avery Elliot 91-80 — 171; 53. Ben Sandquist 87-85 — 172; 54. Christian Groumoutis 90-84 — 174; 56. Dominick Moreno 93-90 — 183.