March 18, 2024

Cardinal duo ready to hit 3A state tournament links

Don’t doubt the desire of Austin Reynolds and Trey Vanderlaan to win an individual state golf championship, but the Newton High juniors put the goal of having fun at this weekend’s Iowa Class 3A Boys’ State Golf Tournament up at the top of their list.

“The main goal is to just have fun,” Reynolds said. “My goal coming into this season was to qualify for state, and my new goal is to win state, but having fun is what it is all about out there.”

“I don’t feel any pressure in this sport. Going into state, Coach Riley told us what a fun experience it is, and I’m looking forward to it,” Vanderlaan said.

The 2016 3A state golf tournament begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Spring Valley Golf Course in Livermore, north of Fort Dodge. The second round of the 36-hole tournament tees off at 8 a.m. Saturday.

It is the first state high school golf tournament for both Cardinal golfers. Reynolds is ranked No. 37 in Class 3A and Vanderlaan sits at No. 53. The two juniors helped Newton win the 2016 Little Hawkeye Conference tournament championship.

“I believe these two have the capability to shoot low scores both days,” Newton head coach Pat Riley said. “They are coming into the state tournament playing some really good golf. I anticipate they will do well.”

Reynolds and Vanderlaan tied for fourth at the 3A district tournament last Friday at The Preserve at Rathbun Lake. They each shot a 76.

Reynolds said it felt really good to qualify for state.

“I played probably the best golf I’ve played yet this year in a tournament at districts,” Reynolds said. “I hit a lot of fairways and greens which really helped a lot. I’m really excited about the state tournament. I want to win state, which will be a tough challenge for me, but I think I can do it.”

Vanderlaan said he shot a 76 on a practice round the night before the district tournament and was feeling good going into it.

“I didn’t start the day off very well. I wasn’t hitting my driver the way I wanted. It started to pick up a bit, but it was my irons which saved me. I hit better with them. My teammates helped me a lot with my irons shot,” Vanderlaan said. “Coach Riley met me on the second to last hole and told me I was just three (shots) over par. I finished it out for a 76 and it felt so good to hear I qualified for state.”

Newton has played Class 4A golf the past few years which is contested in the fall. Moving into Class 3A golf this spring, the Cardinals went a year and a half without competing in high school golf.

Vanderlaan has had the biggest change — he grew taller. Reynolds grew also but not as noticeably as his teammate.

“Growing has been a big part of my improvement I think. I’m stronger so I can hit the ball harder. I was pretty little as a sophomore in that fall season,” Vanderlaan said.

Reynolds said he has seen a steady improvement in his overall game this season. He said right now the best part of his game is his ball striking.

“I hit 13 greens and seven fairways in the district tournament and when you can hit those good things are going to happen for you,” Reynolds said. “I need to work on my putting a little bit. Right now, everything is going pretty well.”

For Vanderlaan, his iron play is the best part of his game heading into the state tournament. He said some days his short game is really good and other days he struggles a bit.

“At the start of the year, I was trying to be that one kid who shoots in the mid-80s and helps the team out,” Vanderlaan said. “Once I got going, I decided maybe I can do something with this.”

Reynolds has been playing golf since he was 4. It’s a family sport.

“There’s nothing better than being out on the course. It’s a love for the sport,” Reynolds said. “I want to play as well as I can, control my attitude and effort and have fun at state.”

“I want to hit fairways, shoot a decent score and just have fun with it,” Vanderlaan said.

Neither golfer has played the Spring Valley course at Livermore. The Cardinals will walk the course Thursday evening to get a lay of the land.

“I just want them to enjoy this opportunity and make the most of it. It will be an experience they will never forget,” Riley said.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com