Iowa high school golf teams get spring 2023 postseason assignments

The postseason is rapidly approaching for Iowa high school boys’ and girls’ golf teams.

Now, they all know their paths to state.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and Iowa High School Athletic Association released postseason golf assignments. Boys’ golf will open with sectionals May 10 for all three classes with districts the following week. Girls’ golf starts May 12 with first-round regionals for Class 1A and 2A and regional final rounds May 17 for all four classes.

“As far as regional assignments go, it’s a process that I’m sure is difficult with trying to separate the best teams and making sure no one travels super far,” Linn-Mar Coach Chris James said. “I think they did a pretty good job in making it equitable.”

The third-ranked Lions will head to Irv Warren Golf Course in Waterloo. They are the highest ranked in the 10-team field that includes No. 7 Cedar Rapids Washington, Ankeny, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, Newton, Urbandale, Waterloo East and Waterloo West. Two will advance to the state meet May 25-26 at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny.

The IGHSAU pushed back releasing assignments for a better gauge of the best teams. The focus is to get the most competitive teams to state.

“Their goal should be to have the 10 best teams represented at state and I don’t necessarily think that’s always been the case in years past,” James said. “I was worried since we have lots of talent in our area that they’d put too many good teams together.”

One of the logjam regionals, unavoidable mostly due to geography and the strength of Eastern Iowa teams, is at Thunder Hills Country Club in Peosta. Fourth-ranked Western Dubuque hosts No. 6 Cedar Falls and No. 11 Cedar Rapids Prairie. Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North and Dubuque Hempstead and Dubuque Senior fill out the teams.

“We feel good about the position we are in,” Prairie Coach Erik Columbus said. “We hope to show up, play our best, and hopefully extend our season.”

Top-ranked Pleasant Valley and No. 8 North Scott are in the same regional with Iowa City High, Iowa City Liberty and Iowa City West at Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City. No. 2 Southeast Polk and No. 10 Ames highlight the regional at Veenker Memorial in Ames. Fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest and No. 9 host West Des Moines Valley are the top teams at Willow Creek Golf Course.

In Class 3A, No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert and No. 6 Cedar Rapids Xavier are at Twin Pines. The field includes No. 15 Williamsburg and No. 20 Benton Community. Fifth-ranked Solon, No. 9 DeWitt Central and 10th-ranked West Delaware will compete in a regional with Marion at Pin Oak Links in Manchester.

Washington Coach Denny Goettel said he thought they did a good job in splitting the top teams in 4A and appeared to do the same in 3A.

“There are two of the top 10 in each region and three of the top 15 in each region,” Goettel said about the 4A regionals. “It still comes down to how individuals and teams play on the 17th. A team has to earn its way to Otter Creek and that is how it should be.”

» Class 3A boys’ golf sectionals and districts

» Class 2A boys’ golf sectionals and districts

» Class 1A boys’ golf sectionals and districts

» Class 4A girls’ golf regional assignments

» Class 3A girls’ golf regional assignments

» Class 2A girls’ golf regional assignments

» Class 1A girls’ golf regional assignments

Solon double dips Wamac titles

Solon’s boys’ and girls’ teams captured Wamac East team titles this week. On Monday, the girls’ team won the divisional championship, shooting 183 at Three Elms Golf Course in Independence. The Spartans were led by Sydney Dee and Rylie Greazel, who both shot 44. West Delaware’s Susie Funke earned medalist honors with 43.

The boys’ team followed suit the next day, winning its divisional at Kernoustie Golf Club in Mount Vernon. The Spartans carded 157 to top runner-up Marion by five strokes. Solon’s Jack McCarty was medalist with 37, two ahead of Marion’s runner-up Nathan Whalen.

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