MORAVIA — Juniors Austin Reynolds and Trey Vanderlaan shot identical scores in Friday’s Class 3A District golf tournament and tied for fourth place. Both will represent Newton High’s Cardinals at the 2016 Iowa Class 3A Boys’ State Golf Tournament.
“It will be exciting to take those two guys to the state tournament and they will have a great experience, no doubt,” Newton head coach Pat Riley said. “The team’s golf season came to end which is sad.”
The Cardinals came up two strokes shy of qualifying for the state tournament as a team. Williamsburg won the district team title with a four-man score of 308. Grinnell claimed the second-place state berth over Newton with a 319 to the Cardinals’ 321.
Oskaloosa fired a 334 combined team score for fourth. Knoxville was fifth at 339 followed by Bondurant-Farrar at 360.
Reynolds and Vanderlaan tied with Connor McKay of Grinnell as each carded a 76 in the 18-hole tournament at The Preserve at Rathbun Lake. In a playoff, McKay claimed third leaving Newton’s duo tied for fourth after playing one hole.
Reynolds posted rounds of 38 and 38 while Vanderlaan shot a 36 on the front nine and a 40 not eh back nine. Senior Derek Damman shot an 83 (40-43) and junior Paul Maharry had an 86 (44-42).
Senior Payton Thomas shot a 91 (48-43) in his final competition for Newton High. Shaiden Simmons, a sophomore, came in with a 98 (53-45).
“I can’t begin to express what these seniors mean to me as a coach, and to this team as leaders. I literally wanted to cry when I finally saw that we were two strokes away from making this season the dream we all wanted it to be,” Riley said.
Williamsburg’s Isaac Knock shot a 70 as the district meet medalist. Grinnell’s Lucas Scherf had a 72 as runner-up. All five individuals along with the top two teams qualify for the 3A state tournament Friday and Saturday at Spring Valley Golf Course in Livermore.
“I just want to send out one last thank you to Derek and Payton for all they have done to make me a better coach. These two seniors have bled Newton golf so it was just sad to see us come so close for them then be happy for Austin and Trey.”
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
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