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Defending state champion West Branch entered the 2022 season again among the favorites in Class 2A.

The Bears looked every bit like a state title contender in the opening round of postseason play on Wednesday.

West Branch had four players in the top seven and fired a 309 to edge host Tipton for the team title at the Class 2A sectional at Tipton Country Club.

Gage Gingerich fired a career-low 76 to place fourth overall as West Branch finished seven strokes in front of runner-up Tipton.

Led by a third-place finish from junior Mikey Takacs Regina finished third with a 345 and joins the top two teams in advancing to the 2A district meet next Monday at Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club in Wapello.

Tipton had the top two individual finishers on Wednesday as Bob Ryan won the sectional title with an even-par 72 and teammate Tristin Sorgenfrey was two shots back with a 74.

The depth that led West Branch to the 2A title last spring showed again on Wednesday as the Bears had four golfers break 80 and had five golfers finish in the nine.

Gingerich led the way firing a 37 on the final nine to close with a 76.

Dylan Countryman and Will Bridges were each one shot back with a 77 to finish fifth and sixth respectively while Brady Knoop was seventh with a 79.
Logan Highly finished ninth with an 83 for the Bears.

Andrew Triplett shot an 83 to finish eighth for Regina as the Regals finished 10 strokes in front of Mediapolis for the third spot.

Class 2A Sectional Meet

At Tipton Country Club

Team scores – 1. West Branch 309; 2. Tipton 316; 3. Regina 345; 4. Mediapolis 355; 5. Durant 371; 6. Wilton 373; 7. Mid-Prairie 395

Individual leaders – 1. Bob Ryan (TIP) 39-33 – 72; 2. Tristin Sorgenfrey (TIP) 38-36 – 74; 3. Mikey Takacs (ICR) 38-37 – 75; 4. Gage Gingerich (WB) 39-37 – 76; 5. Dylan Countryman (WB) 39-38 – 77; 6. Will Bridges (WB) 39-38 – 77; 7. Brady Knoop (WB) 38-41 – 79; 8. Andrew Triplett (ICR) 44-39 – 83; 9. Logan Highly (WB) 39-44 – 83; 10. Kole Meyer (TIP) 45-40 85

West Branch (309) – Gage Gingerich 39-37 – 76; Dylan Countryman 39-38 – 77; Will Bridges 39-38 – 77; Brady Knoop 38-41 – 79; Logan Highly 39-44 – 83; Cameron Gingerich 47-49 – 96

Regina (345) – Mikey Takacs 38-37 – 75; Andrew Triplett 44-39 – 83; Noah Clark 48-46 – 94; Lincoln Dardis 47-46 – 93; Coltrae Kerschen 54-45 – 99; Jake Kelly 53-55 – 108

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