PCM boys golf advances to state tournament after runner-up finish

MONROE — For the first time since 2018, the PCM boys golf team is headed back to the state tournament.

The Mustangs clinched a spot in next week’s Class 2A tournament after a runner-up finish at Bos Landen Golf Course on Monday.

PCM was 24 strokes behind district champion Pella Christian, but cleared three teams which shot 351 by eight strokes.

The top three teams and the top two individuals plus ties not on a qualifying team advance to state.

The Mustangs’ top finisher was Tate Tangeman, who tied for 10th with an 84. Charlie Ford was 11th with an 85 and Jeffery McDanel tied for 12th with an 86.

The final counting score came from Parker DeHaai (88) and Easton Van Veen (89) and Pete Kiernan (92) turned in non-counting scores.

Pella Christian won the district championship with a 319. PCM shot 343 as the runner-up and Central Lee was the third state qualifying team after winning a three-way tie with a 351.

Tipton and Beckman Catholic also shot 351, but Central Lee advanced because of a better fifth score.

Albia (352) was one shot back of the three-way tie and West Branch (354), Cascade (355) and Mediapolis (361) completed the nine-team field.

The difference between Pella Christian and PCM (24) was greater than the difference between second and ninth (18).

Pella Christian’s Eliot Menninga was the meet medalist with a 76 and his teammate, Cooper Spronk, shot 77 as the runner-up. The Eagles grabbed the top three spots in the individual standings.

Beckman’s Jake Wegman, Tipton’s Gavin Roth and West Branch’s McGavin Smith were the individual qualifiers after shooting 81s.

The 2A state tournament is scheduled for May 27-28 at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo. Tuesday’s tee time is slated for 10:30 a.m. and players tee off at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

PCM (316.1) enters the state tournament with the fourth-best 18-hole average among the 12 qualifying teams. The only teams with a better average are Pella Christian (308.64), Grundy Center (309.14) and Columbus Catholic (315.7).

The rest of the field includes Central Lee (317), Ridge View (318.33), Aplington-Parkersburg (319.8), East Marshall (320.33), Kuemper Catholic (321.22), Earlham (321.5), MMCRU (324.33) and Panorama (330.67).

Grundy Center qualified for the state tournament last spring and won the 2A title in 2023.

The Mustangs finished second the last time they played in the 2A state tournament in 2018. The state champions that season was Kuemper Catholic, which also is in the field this spring.