WORTHINGTON - “It was something to watch,” said Worthington High School boys golf coach John Koller.
It must have been even more amazing to experience.
Tyler Van Hove set the all-time low nine-hole score for Worthington High School Tuesday, with a five-under par 29 at the Worthington Country Club course.
“It feels pretty great,” Van Hove said. “I never expected to do it. With three holes to go, I just kind of put that thought in the back of my mind, and I just went after it.”
“He went birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle on the back side,” said Koller. “It was incredible.”
Golfing on the east side “old nine,” Van Hove helped Worthington’s boys beat Marshall 144-159. All his teammates also performed admirably, with Ben Koepsell carding a 36, Jacob Prunty 37, and Nathoe Vorasane and Zach Boever 42 apiece.
But Van Hove’s performance is one for the books. The old WHS nine-hole record was 32.
“I started out with four pars, so I was pretty good right away. And then I got on a hot streak,” he said.
You can’t set a school record in golf without doing everything well. Van Hove, a senior, said he drove the ball well, and then some.
“Today the putts were just falling, and that’s why I scored so well,” he said.
A day earlier, Van Hove carded an excellent score of 35 on the road at Pipestone.
“He’s just hitting the ball so well. He’s just getting opportunities for birdies on every hole,” said Koller. “he’s giving himself so many opportunities, and he’s converting them with his putts.”
Mason Plante led Marshall’s boys with a 36.
Marshall won the girls meet, 188-204. The Tigers’ Olivia Peterson was medalist with a 44. Kaylee Gossen had a 45, Ana Schwarz 48 and Megan Kock 52.
Worthington was led by Anneke Weg with a 49. Trojans Kelicy Anderson had 50, McKenna Prunty 52 and Bailey Weg 53. Rachel Koller was close behind with a 54.
