Tue Sep 10 17:23:00 UTC 2024: ## West Hancock Titans Dominate Golf Meet, Smeltser Aims for State Return
**HAMILTON, Ill.** – The West Hancock Titans boys golf team secured a victory at Deer Run Golf Course on Monday, defeating Brown County and Payson. The Titans recorded a team score of 191, while Brown County finished 12 strokes behind at 203 and Payson trailed with 221.
Leading the Titans was Alten Lowman, who shot a round of 43. Bryson Smeltser, who tied for 34th in the Class 1A state meet last season, carded a 47. Other contributing scores came from Keaton Harl (50), Braden Hurt (51), Cooper Knowles (52), and Gage Stull (53).
Despite a strong performance, Smeltser expressed frustration with his putting on Monday. “My driver has been really good recently, but I struggled with putting today,” he said. “I haven’t been playing much recently, haven’t got a lot of practice in.”
Smeltser attributed his less-than-ideal round to a difficult pin placement on the first hole and inconsistent putting. He did, however, credit a lucky putt for helping his overall score.
Despite the challenges, Smeltser remains focused on returning to the state meet, where he hopes to improve upon his performance last year. He attributes his motivation to the positive experience and hopes to make another appearance as a junior.
The West Hancock Titans will continue their season with hopes of making a strong showing at the state meet.
First Piper 