Staff writer
Marion High School golfer Wiley Lundy fired an 84 Thursday on the Fox Ridge Golf Club course in Newton to place seventh in the Remington invitational tournament.
Lundy had struggled April 16 at Council Grove, but got back into form at Fox Ridge by shaving 14 strokes off the score he posted three days earlier.
“Wiley improved tremendously,” Marion head coach Thane Schwartz said.
The par-72 layout at Fox Ridge challenged golfers who had problems finding the fairways, Schwartz said.
“The course was nice, big cottonwood trees, the greens were well manicured, but the roughs were tall and horrendous,” Schwartz said.
The deep, thick rough grabbed and twisted clubs as golfers tried to hack their way out. Eric Regnier developed a blister because of it and was forced to withdraw from the tournament after nine holes.
“He said he cut enough grass with his 9-iron to feed a small herd of cattle,” Schwartz said.
Hogan Lovelady finished 11th with a round of 86, and Jared Hague shot 113.
“Jared was the most improved,” Schwartz said. “He would probably be in the top ten for fewest putts per green.”
Lovelady also rebounded from his performance at Council Grove. Schwartz noted that while Lovelady continues to work on honing his mid-range irons, his length off the tee helps his game.
“He drives it so far with his driver that he makes up for a shot or two around the greens,” Schwartz said.
The renovation of the greens at Marion Country Club is starting to have positive effects on his team’s play, Schwartz said.
“Their short game and putting is improving because of all the hard work they’ve done at Marion Country Club getting the greens ready,” Schwartz said. “That’s showing in our short game now because we can putt and chip in practice.”
The Warriors travel Friday to Salina to participate in the Salina Invitational. Tuesday they will host the Marion Invitational at Marion Country Club.