Newton golf duo has solid experience at 3A state

LIVERMORE — Disappointment was there for both Trey Vanderlaan and Austin Reynolds. As with every other golfer at the 2016 Iowa Class 3A Boys’ State Golf Tournament, the Newton High juniors were after a state individual championship or at least a state medal.

“It was really fun and I’m hoping to be able to qualify again next year,” Vanderlaan said after finishing the 36-hole state tournament tied for 41st. “It was tough. I learned a lot about myself. I had fun staying with coach and my teammates on the trip to state.”

Reynolds had set his goal on winning the state tournament. He was in position to make a run after the first day, sitting in sixth place, but the second day didn’t go as well. Reynolds tied for 10th when all the scores were in Saturday at Spring Valley Golf Course.

“It was a great feeling for my first state tournament experience. I felt great Friday night and I still feel great,” Reynolds said. “This was a fun year for me playing with our team all season. We had fun this weekend at state and in the hotel, telling jokes and laughing.”

Reynolds shot an 81 on Saturday to finish with a 155, tying with two others for 10th. The top seven golfers are awarded state tournament medals. His 74 on Friday had him alone in sixth place heading into the second day.

Vanderlaan was in the middle of the field of 62 golfers following the first 18 holes of play Friday. He had an 84 tied for 36th. Vanderlaan carded an 87 on Saturday to finish with a 171 to end in a five-way tie for 41st.

“I was proud of Austin and Trey for making the state tournament as juniors,” Newton head coach Pat Riley said.

“After the first day I was hoping Austin would finish in the top five, but he did not have his best short game day Saturday,” Riley said.

Reynolds was four shots behind the first-day leader, Decorah senior Sam Sacquitne, who had a 70.

On Friday, Reynolds opened with a three-over par 39 on the front nine with one birdie and four pars. He ended the day with back-to-back birdies on No. 17 and No. 18 to shoot one-under par, 35, on the back nine. He birdied No. 12 and had four pars.

“After the first nine holes, I just had belief and faith in myself. I knew I could come back with a better score on the back nine,” Reynolds said. “My drivers were good all day. I got a lot of drives to the green. I got the ball within 10 feet and I two-putted a lot.”

Following the brief delay in the start of Saturday’s 18-hole round because of rain, the golfers got out on the course. They teed off in bright sunlight and blue skies, but the skies quickly clouded over, and they dealt with several showers during the first nine holes.

During play of the back nine, the golfers, fans and course stayed dry until the there were two or three holes remaining. A thunderstorm rolled through, halting play for a little more than an hour.

Reynolds was ready to finish putting on hole No. 18 with one more hole to play when the horn sounded to suspend play. Vanderlaan was right behind his Newton teammate on the No. 18 fairway, coming up on his final hole.

“Trey gained some invaluable ‘high stress meet’ experience,” Riley said. “Austin has been playing in the junior PGA, so was a little more used to those type of meets. Trey will grow from this and be a huge part of our team success next year.”

Vanderlaan said he had learned a lot about himself, especially during Friday’s first round.

“I started out bad with a 46 on the first nine holes I played, and I was getting down on myself. I realized I still had a back nine to play. My dad, brother and grandparents were here and kept encouraging me throughout the day,” Vanderlaan said. “I’m at state golf, I’m out of school, it’s summer and I’m doing something fun. I pulled a 38 on that back nine and I felt good.”

Vanderlaan made the turn after the first nine on Friday with a 46 and had three pars. He rebounded with a 38 on the back nine with seven pars.

“My putting and chipping turned it around. I made a lot of up-and-downs Friday, which saved me,” Vanderlaan said.

Both Cardinal golfers had trouble finding their game on Saturday.

“I don’t know what happened today. I got kind of tired at the middle of the round,” Reynolds said. “I was one over through seven holes then I got a bad bounce off a shot on No. 9. It kicked out of bounds and I took a triple bogey on that hole.”

Reynolds said he had a couple bad breaks on a couple drives, but he also had some good drives to the greens. He said his putting was off all day on Saturday.

“I had a chance to shoot a 79 on the last hole. I had a 10-foot putt, but I didn’t make it then missed a three-footer coming back,” Reynolds said. “I had a good attitude and effort today, but things were just off. I did not have as many shots to the green today as Friday so my driving was off combined with my putting, which made for a long day.”

Vanderlaan said the Spring Valley Golf Course was a little challenging and everyone had to deal with the rain and the delay.

“It was just me hitting my clubs. Nothing clicked for me today. On this course you really have to hit your all straight in order to do well. I had a lot of punch-out shots and a lot of sand shots today,” Vanderlaan said. “It wasn’t a horrible round, but I know I could’ve done so much better.”

Reynolds shot a 41 on his first nine and a 40 on his second nine in Saturday’s round for his 81. Vanderlaan went 42 and 45 for his 87. Each had a couple of birdies.

“Austin finishing in the top 10 was great. He deserved it,” Riley said. “Trey will have the confidence to know he can compete with the best golfers in our class. I believe the guys enjoyed the experience. I can speak through personal experience it will not be their score they remember but the camaraderie.”

West Delaware senior Clayton Larsen shot a 69 on Saturday to claim the 3A state individual championship with a 36-hole total of 140. Sacquitne, who led the field after the first day, finished in a two-way tie with Webster City senior Alec Fuhs for second at 141.

Gilbert senior Garret Jensen was fourth at 145 followed by MOC-Floyd Valley junior in fifth at 157 and Williamsburg junior Isaac Knock at sixth at 149. Mount Vernon senior Connor Herrmann and Webster City senior Avery Fuhs tied for seventh at 152.

Webster City defended its 3A state team championship with a 614. West Delaware was second with 625.

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