VALDES AND HAWKS NEAR VICTORY AT RAIDER INVITATIONAL IN ORANGE CITY

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northeast Community College golf team traveled to Orange City, Iowa Monday to battle 13 different squads in the Raider Invitational at Landsmeer Golf Club. The Hawks finished alone in third place and one stroke off the lead in the 36-hole tournament.

Tanner Walling (Wayne, Neb.) finished the first round in a tie for the lead after shooting a 68 during the first 18 holes. Santiago Valdes (Mexico City, Mexico) was just two strokes behind Walling's mark after Round 1 as every player went back and played all 18 holes for a second time in Round 2.

Two birdies in Round 2 gave Valdes a share of the lead and he was in contention for first throughout the final nine holes. Ultimately, a bogey on the last hole put Valdes in a tie for second place at the end of the event with a score of 138 over both rounds. Northeast as a team put together a spectacular Round 2 as they shot a combined 279.

STAT SHEET:

Team: Tied for Third Place | Round 1: 291 | Round 2: 279

Santiago Valdes (Mexico City, Mexico): T2 | Round 1: 70 | Round 2: 68

Kody Sander (Lincoln, Neb.): 11 | Round 1: 73 | Round 2: 69

Emmet Hansen (Brandon, S.D.): T12 | Round 1: 73 | Round 2: 70

Tanner Walling (Wayne, Neb.): T12 | Round 1: 68 | Round 2: 72

Rockney Peck (Wisner, Neb.): T25 | Round 1: 75 | Round 2: 72

Riley Kuehn (Hartington, Neb.): T56 | Round 1: 81 | Round 2: 75

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head men's golf coach Ty Heimes on the play from Santiago Valdes today:

"Santi played great all day," Heimes said. "He's been working really hard and it's paying off. I'm really happy for him."

Heimes on the performance from his whole squad:

"The team battled all day," Heimes said. "Thirty-six holes can get long, and they just hung in there and played great."

Heimes on what's ahead:

"This was a good tournament to have right before regionals," Heimes said. "We are peaking at the right time and our group is motivated to get back to nationals."

UP NEXT:

It all comes down to this as Northeast will now compete in the North Central District Championship on Monday, May 1 at Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora, Iowa.

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