HIGH SCHOOL GOLF: Carey’s conference title, Hansen’s runner-up finish power Rams to second place

By Brandon Hurley
Managing Editor
news@beeherald

The breakout out arrived just in time.  

An impressive showing from Greene County’s Joe Carey was the standout performance of the day at Tuesday’s Heart of Iowa Conference golf meet in State Center, helping guide the Rams to a runner-up finish.
Carey’s 18-hole score of four-over, 76 at the Lincoln Valley Golf Course secured the junior the out-right individual conference title, out-pacing teammate Jack Hansen. The sophomore churned out quite a round of his own, finishing runner-up with a five-over, 77. As a team, the Rams finished in a tie for the team title with Nevada at 338 total strokes, but lost the tie-breaker to finish runner-up.

Greene County’s Kole Teeples 18-hole score of 98 was just a shade behind Nevada’s Easton Gray at 94, which ultimately was the difference in the fifth and decisive score.
Nevada was anchored by Kyle Kingsbury, who finished fourth with a 79 in addition to two other top 10 performers in William Carsurd, who finished eight with an 84 along with Christian Hawbaker, who came in ninth at 85.
Greene County was aided by Nathan Behne, who finished 17th with a 91 followed by Caden Telleen, who placed 26th with a 94.

Carey’s championship was punctuated by a birdie on the par 4, 17th hole as well as a birdie on the seventh-hole. Overall, Carey produced 11 pars, highlighted by his 2-over, 37 on the back nine.
Hansen turned in four total birdies, carding a one-over 38 on the front nine. The sophomore could have ran away with the conference title if not for a four-hole stretch in which he played three-over, including a double bogey on hole 16.

“(Joe and Jack) both were incredible today,” Greene County head coach Heath Telleen said. “I am so proud of the way our guys battled today. Obviously, we wish we could have come out on top, but this group has accomplished so much.”

The Rams have now placed runner-up at the HOIC two years in a row.

Greene County is ranked 23rd in Class 3A by the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association, sporting a 7-3 record in addition to an adjusted team score of 187.93 for nine holes.

Carey placed third at the Class 3A sectional tournament Wednesday, May 11 in Denison. He’ll compete at the district tournament Monday in Spencer.
The Class 3A state meet will be held May 23-24 at Veenker Golf Course in Ames.