Baby steps could very well be the way Sutton golf coach Randy Ahrens looks at the past three seasons for the Sutton Mustang’s program, as in each of the past two seasons Ahrens has taken one of his players to the Class C state golf championships, Jadyn Friesen as a freshman in 2022, and Harrison Hernson, last season, as a sophomore.
In 2024, the Mustangs finally found the pot of gold, led by juniors Friesen and Herndon, as Ahrens and his entire team punched their ticket to the state tournament, as Sutton claimed the runner-up team title in the Class D-1 District meet, held in Grand Island on the Indianhead Golf Course in southwest Grand Island.
As the Mustangs hit the As the Mustangs hit the course, Monday, May 13, Friesen and Herndon were destined to claim individual hardware and help Sutton earn the runner-up spot behind the Raiders of Lawrence-Nelson, as the Raiders outshot Sutton 350-352 to edge out Sutton for the team title when the dust settled in Grand Island. The other team qualifier proved to be Ravenna, as the Bluejays carded a 356 to edge out Sandy Creek by six strokes for the final team placement to advance to state.
Friesen placed fourth in the final individual standings, shooting an 18-hole 81. Friesen opened play on the front nine with a 44, but shaved seven strokes off his opening-round score to shoot a 37 and secure the fourth-place spot.
Finishing just ahead of Friesen as gold medalist, Lukas Armstrong, a freshman from Red Cloud, carded an 80. Elmwood- Murdock senior, Easton Miller also carded an 80, for second place, while Sandy Creek senior, Jake Dane fired an 81 to place third.
Herndon opened his day with a 43 and backed up his front nine score with an identical 43 on the back nine to place 10th overall with an 18-hole 86.
Junior Aidan Jones fired a team-leading 40 during the opening nine holes of play, but carded a 49 on the back nine to be Sutton’s third golfer with an 89.
David Fonseca shot scores of 50 and 46 during the day to card a 96, while Carson Mau shot scores of 55 and 56 to shoot a 111, as Sutton’s fifth golfer.
All five varsity team members will advance to the Class D State Championship tournament at the Lake Maloney Golf Course south of North Platte, Tuesday, May 21, and Wednesday, May 22. Play on both days will begin at 9 a.m.
TEAM SCORES: Lawrence-Nelson 350, Sutton 352, Ravenna 356, Red Cloud 375, Elmwood-Murdock 381, Deshler 388, Silver Lake 396, Fullerton 404, BDS 410, Blue Hill 412, Heartland Lutheran 467, Franklin 475, High Plains Community 479.
