​Eagles battle elements, top Bulldogs and Pirates in tri dual

by Michael Smith

     It was 39 degrees outside as the Grain Valley boys golf team battled the elements.
     The Eagles had to adjust to the cold weather in a tri dual against Kearney and Platte County and ended up with an admirable performance. They shot one of their best scores in program history at Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs.
     Grain Valley shot 164 to take first place. Kearney was second with a 183 and Platte County was third with a 197.
     “There weren’t great conditions out there, so it says a lot about their intestinal fortitude to shoot that well,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said.
     The Eagles were led by No. 5 golfer Jaiden Owen, who shot a 39. Platte County’s Parker Amos was the medalist with a 38.
     With the weather, the golfers had to make some adjustments.
     “For me, it was clubbing up once or twice and hitting lower shots and swinging easy,” Owen said.
     His strategy worked out as he had the lowest score on the team.
     “It’s all about practicing and keeping a club in your hands,” Owen said, “and keeping my routine and constant practice.”
     No. 3 Connor Nadeau and returning state qualifier Owen Herbert were big contributors toward the team score, as well, as they both shot a 40.
     “My irons were pretty good and I was hitting a lot of greens,” Nadeau said. “My putts were getting pretty close for easy pars.”
     Herbert came on strong during the final five holes.
     “I was four over through four (holes) and I parred out from there,” Herbert said. “I had a lot of birdie putts, they just didn’t go in. Overall it was a pretty good day.”
     Rounding out the scores for Grain Valley was Charlie Aldred (45), Braxton Roach (51) and Hayden Hake.
     Winning this tri dual is just the latest success in a hot start for the Eagles in 2022.
     “These guys like each other and will go play on the weekends,” Coach Herbert said. “They have bought in and team success means something to them.”
 

Owen Herbert, left,  and Connor Nadeau, right,  both shot a 40, while Jaiden Owen shot a team-best 39 Wednesday at Adams Point Golf Club. The Eagles took first in a tri dual against Kearney and Platte County with 164 points. Photo credit: Michael Smith