MARYSVILLE — While Highland Christian produced the medalist, Grace Academy had four players par at least one hole, giving them a slight edge when the two golf teams met for nine holes at Cedarcrest Golf Course April 23.
Highland Christian senior Craig Crawford shot three over par on the first nine of Grace Academy’s home course. He birdied on the par 4 fifth hole and parred on five holes overall to lead the Knights. Grace Academy’s Dylan Falk was four strokes behind Crawford for a score of 42, leading his team to the 243-254 win. Falk also birdied, coming in one under par on the par 5 hole four.
Nathaniel Lugg of Grace Academy and Vince Kurtzenacker of Highland Christian had the second-best scores for their team, each coming in 11 over par. Kurtzenacker had a slightly more even effort across the nine holes, parring on three of the last four holes and shooting one over par on three holes. Lugg also bogeyed on three and parred on two.
The teams were fairly evenly matched in their first through third golfers. Grace No. 1 Grant Weinberg struggled on the par 5 fourth hole, finishing third, just one stroke ahead of brother Garrett’s 50. Highland Christian’s No. 3 Jeff Kelly came in with a score of 52. But the Knights’ No. 4 and No. 5 tracked on average six strokes behind their competitors. Highland Christian’s Nick Grondyke finished in 57 strokes and Brandon Chase in 61, while Grace Academy’s Ryan Bronder wrapped up the varsity five with in 56 strokes.