Cougars continue spring golf schedule in strong regional competition
The Central McLean boys golf team faced another challenging week on the links, competing in back-to-back invitationals against many of the top Class B programs in western North Dakota.
The Cougars opened the week May 12 at the SMC Invitational hosted at Hawktree Golf Club in Bismarck before returning to action May 14 at the Heart River Invitational at Pheasant Country Golf Course in South Heart.
Both tournaments featured deep fields loaded with regional contenders, giving Central McLean another opportunity to test itself against strong competition as the postseason approaches.
At Hawktree, Shiloh Christian captured the team championship with a score of 338, while Dickinson Trinity finished second at 360 and Heart River placed third with a 366. Bowman County and Beulah rounded out the top five team finishes.
Southern McLean finished seventh overall with a 389, while Central McLean did not record a full team score.
Despite not placing in the team standings, the Cougars were highlighted by a strong showing from sophomore Carter Johnson, who turned in one of the better individual rounds of the day.
Johnson tied for ninth place in the 68-golfer field after carding an 88, finishing 16-over-par on the demanding Hawktree layout. His round placed him among the top individual performers of the tournament and continued a solid spring season for the sophomore.
Johnson’s finish also put him inside the top 10 in a field that included many of the top golfers from western North Dakota schools.