Spencer competes at district

ATLANTIC — Creston sophomore Branden Spencer picked up valuable experience in a promising future by competing in Monday’s Class 3A District Tournament at Atlantic Golf & Country Club.

Spencer qualified for district competition by being one of the top two individuals not from one of the three advancing teams from the Knoxville Sectional — Knoxville, Atlantic and Winterset.

Spencer carded an 88 for 39th place in the district and did not advance to the state meet. But, coach Steve Shantz said his young player learned what that level of competition is like at this stage of the season.

“The day didn’t turn out as Branden wanted, but he did get to compete in the district tournament to end a fantastic year,” Shantz said. “He struggled in the short game and putting today. But Branden continued to get better as the year went on and we can’t wait for next year.”

Just like in sectionals, the top three teams from each district site qualify for the state tournament, as well as the top two overall individual players (plus ties) from each site’s non-qualifying teams. Des Moines Christian shot 280 to win the team title.

Class 3A District

Team scoring — 1. Des Moines Christian 280; 2. Knoxville 287; 3. Atlantic 292; 4. Humboldt 292; 5. Nevada 302; 6. Winterset 309.

Individual leaders — 1. Cade Birdsell, Humboldt, 67; 2. Max Shisler, DM Christian, 68; 3. Grant Gerdes, Knoxville, 69; 4. Brady Roozenboom, Knoxville, 69; 5. Parker Rodgers, Nevada, 69; 6. Braden Shontz, DM Christian, 70; 7. Parker Osthus, DM Christian, 70; 8. Dawson Sleiter, Humboldt, 70; 9. Hudson McLaren, Atlantic, 71; 10. Noah Anderson, DM Christian, 72.

Creston — 39. Branden Spencer, 88.