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Janesville Craig golf on upswing

Janesville Craig boys golf coach Dominic Wiegel hopes a promising start will lead to a productive season for the Cougars.

The Cougars teed off on the 2011 season Monday by winning the nine-team Icebreaker Invitational at The Bridges in Madison.

Wiegel hopes Monday’s team title is a sign of things to come.

“I really thought we would be a team that would shoot in the low 330s or so, and we come out the first tournament of the season and shot 325,” Wiegel said. “That’s really encouraging.

“The Big Eight might be down a little bit this season as far as overall talent, and that might give us an opportunity to step in and compete for a conference title.”

Sophomore Jordan Gagg and junior Tanner Woodman both shot 79 on Monday and finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

“Tanner is just a good athlete who works hard. And he has the best short game on the team,” Wiegel said. “Jordan’s a kid that keeps improving, and also, works hard on his game.”

Junior Ryne Clatworthy will be the team’s No. 1 golfer and is a returning varsity player.

“Ryne worked on his game a lot in the off season and played in a number of big tournaments,” Wiegel said. “He has really matured as a player. He’s not as long as some of the others, but he is very accurate.”

Seniors Jim Leute and Jordan Moss, both lefthanders, will also occupy two of the varsity spots.

“Those two are big hitters, and being lefthanded, can shape different shots,” Wiegel said.

Three other players are also expected to contend for one of the five varsity spots. Juniors Jacob Bandi and Thomas Murphy are in the mix, along with freshman Nolan Moran.

Craig’s schedule:

April: 18—At Edgewood Invitational (Maple Bluff), 11 a.m.; 21—At Monona Grove Invitational, 8 a.m.; 27—At Madison La Follette (w Sun Prairie at Yahara Hills), 2:30 p.m.; 30—At Waunakee Invitational, 2 p.m.

May: 2—At Beloit Memorial (w/ Madison Memorial at Beloit Country Club), 2:30 p.m.; 6—At Beloit Memorial Invitational (Krueger Haskell), 11:30 a.m.; 7—Ashenfelter Invitational (Riverside), 8 a.m.; 10—At Verona (Edelweiss), 2:30 p.m.; 19—At Big Eight Conference Meet (Evansville Golf Club), 8:30 a.m.; 21—At Beloit Scramble (Krueger Haskell), 10 a.m.