The Pella Christian boys golf team got off to a rough start and struggled to bounce back at the Class 2A State Boys Golf Tournament in Waterloo on Tuesday.

The Eagles recorded a team score of 336 in the first round of the tournament at Gates Park Golf Course, while second-ranked Columbus Catholic leads the field after 18 holes with a score of 302. Eliot Menninga had the lowest round for Pella Christian, shooting an 82 to tie for 35th on the first day of the tourney. Cooper Spronk wasn’t far behind Menninga with an 84, while Landon Fransman and Deacon Branderhorst each shot an 85 to round out the team scoring for the Eagles. Completing the lineup for Pella Christian on the day was Carter Brand with a 90 and Connor Van Zee with a 92. Eagles head coach Kent Breems said that Tuesday just wasn’t his squad’s day unfortunately, but that they will work to bounce back today.

“Today didn’t go quite as well as hoped for whatever reason, we just didn’t play that well today, but tomorrow is another day. So, that’s one of the life lessons that I guess you learn in golf. It can be a humbling game at times, even when you’re playing well one day, the next day doesn’t go that well. So, it’s time to regroup and come back to fight another day.”

Pella Christian will look to improve on the second and final day of the tournament today, with the first tee times scheduled for 9 am.