Lynn Wilhelm
CherryRoad Media

On a nearly perfect spring day for golf, the Syracuse High School boys’ golf team battled their way to a hard-fought second-place finish at the Nebraska Capitol Conference Tournament on Thursday, May 8. The competition took place at the Nine-hole Country Drive Golf Course

Syracuse shot a team score of 324, finishing behind Logan View (315) and ahead of Yutan (329) in what has become a highly competitive trio over the past several seasons. The effort earned the Rockets the conference runner-up plaque.

Sophomore Carter Kreifels led the way for Syracuse, finishing 2nd overall with a round of 79 (40, 39). Kreifels found himself in a three-way tie for second but emerged victorious via handicap tiebreaker. The decision came down to the third-hardest hole—hole #2—where Kreifels made par while his competitors recorded bogeys.

“It was a great day for golf,” said Kreifels. “I started a little slow, but my game came together. I’ve learned so much from my coaches and teammates, and I’m so proud that we could bring home the conference runner-up plaque this year.”

Fellow sophomore Wyatt Higgins earned 6th place with an 80 (41, 39), while Mason Lintz followed closely behind in 8th place, carding an 81 (45, 36). Lintz’s impressive 36 on the back nine was the lowest nine-hole score of the tournament.

Cade Stephenson and Brennan Schroeder rounded out the team scoring with matching totals of 84 (T-14th, 42, 42) and 85 (T-14th, 41, 44) respectively.

The Rockets now look ahead to their final stretch of the regular season. They’ll compete at the Lincoln Christian Invite at Hidden Valley Golf Course on May 12, followed by a home dual meet against Louisville on May 15. Districts will take place on May 19 at Crooked Creek Golf Course in Lincoln.

Team Scores – Logan View 315, Syracuse 324, Yutan 329, DC West 338, Fort Calhoun 360, Arlington 394, Louisville 412.