Hampshire’s Yoder captures BNC crown

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POPLAR GROVE – Hampshire senior Grant Yoder knew what to do playing in less-than-ideal conditions.

“My ball-striking wasn’t great because it was a little cold and windy,” Yoder said. “I tried to bank on my putter. I putted very well.”

Yoder tied Rockford Lutheran’s Zack Larson with 3-over-par 75s in the Big Northern Conference Boys Golf Meet on Thursday at Timber Pointe. Larson won the individual conference title on a scorecard tiebreaker that went backward to determine the best score on the most difficult hole.

Lutheran won the meet with 319 strokes and the overall team title.

Burlington Central shot 326, followed by Hampshire (331) and Marengo (339). They were also the next three teams in the overall standings, which combine dual meets and teams’ tournament finishes.

“It’s [winning the conference] always in the back of your mind,” Yoder said. “I figured I had as good a shot as anybody else. I just wanted to play my best and see what happened.”

Jeremy Yoder, Grant’s sophomore brother, shot 81 to help the Whip-Purs take third. Marengo’s Jordan Hernandez and Frank Cusimano shot 83s to earn All-BNC honors. Hampshire’s Jeff Cohn shot 85 and received All-BNC honorable mention.

“I didn’t really do anything different,” Jeremy Yoder said of his round. “I just played my game the best I could. I got up and down a few times, made some putts. I was happy with my round.”

Hampshire was second heading into the meet with dual points, but Burlington passed the Whips. Still, Hampshire coach Jeff Howe was pleased with the team’s play.

“I hope Grant and Jeremy are really peaking at the right time,” Howe said. “They both have a shot at making it to sectional and getting a state berth. We’ve had a really good season. Our score today was a little disappointing because they’ve worked so hard, but I have no complaints.”

Lutheran, with no dual losses, nearly clinched the title before the meet. The Crusaders almost lost the meet, however, when Brad Giamalva signed an incorrect scorecard. The player in Giamalva’s group keeping his score had one hole incorrect when he signed after the round.

After a meeting of the rules committee, Giamalva, who was third at 76, got a reprieve and was allowed to change the score. Had he been disqualified, Burlington would have won the meet, but Lutheran still would have been crowned BNC champion.

“The total score was correct on his card, and the [group] observer had the correct score,” said Marengo coach J.D. Peters, who served on the committee. “[Giamalva] said the score correctly when they asked him. We felt we did the right thing ethically and let him change it.”

Marengo’s Hernandez said he hoped to shoot 80 in his final BNC Meet.

“I’ll take [the 83],” Hernandez said. “It’s better than I thought I might shoot. My short game was better than it’s been in the past.”