Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond's Kinnick Henning hits a tee shot on Friday during a North Central Conference triangular. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

While not the scores St. Edmond head boys golf coach Matt Dillon wants, the progress made does have him feeling hopeful.

The Gaels finished third here on Friday at Lakeside Golf Course during a North Central Conference triangular won by Humboldt. Iowa Falls-Alden finished second.

Led by medalist Cade Birdsell’s 37, the Wildcats fired a 161 — four strokes ahead of the Cadets. St. Edmond finished with a 186 paced by Ty Mericle’s 40, which placed him in a tie for third.

“We’re making improvements,” Dillon said. “We’ve shown that we can get some solid scores throughout the lineup this year but we just haven’t put it together in one meet yet. Ty and Jack (McElroy) have been steady and consistent; we just need to get the others there.

“I’m confident we will because these guys are working hard and understand what it takes.”

Mericle had a pair of birdies on No. 15 and No. 18 to go along with three pars on the back nine. McElroy carded a 45 with a birdie on No. 10 and two pars.

Maxxus Laufersweiler was third for the Gaels with a 50, followed by a 51 from Griffin Laufersweiler that included a pair of pars. Kinnick Henning contributed a 52 with one par and Hunter Horn carded a 54 with two pars.

“Getting a couple more of those guys down in the mid-40s is what we need,” Dillon said. “They are capable of doing it, we just need them to come prepared and go out and execute.”

Birdsell was on throughout his round, picking up birdies on No. 10, No. 12 and No. 18, as Carson Oleson followed with a 40 that included five of his nine holes ending in par.

Dawson Sleiter had a 41 with a birdie and five pars, Ascher Gonder had a 43 that had a birdie and two pars between Nos. 16-18, Andrew Nedved added a 47 and Cooper Theesfeld had a 49.

For Iowa Falls-Alden, Kaleb Kalous carded a 38 that earned him runner-up honors.

The St. Edmond junior varsity finished with a 211, good for second behind Humboldt and ahead of the Cadets. Jackson Calvert led with a 49, as Cal Reisner and Thomas Knobbe both had 53s and Owen Rutherford a 56.

Up next for the Gaels will be a trip to Jewell Golf and Country to face South Hamilton and Panorama on Monday beginning at 4 p.m.