A day of firsts: Washington’s Roman Roth, Iowa City Regina’s Mikey Takacs win state golf medalist honors

AMES — Iowa City Regina’s Mikey Takacs overcame a late challenge. Washington’s Roman Roth distanced himself from the field.

Both claimed their schools’ first individual boys’ state golf title Tuesday in Ames.

Takacs won a sudden-victory playoff with Hamburg freshman Keith Thompson to claim the Class 1A individual championship and Hillcrest Academy won the team race at Ames Golf and Country Club. Roth led throughout to take the 3A crown at Veenker Memorial Golf Course.

Regina Coach Jason Urdahl said it was a fitting feat for Takacs,

“It was satisfying to see Mikey fulfill what I would say was his destiny,” Urdahl said. “I think he’s very clearly been the best player in 1A this year. I don’t care what anybody shot in 2A or 3A, I’d take him before I’d take anybody.”

Urdahl said Thompson tied Takacs with a 148 two-round total, making a 50-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation play. Both returned to the par-4 No. 7 hole for the first playoff. Takacs bogeyed the hole earlier Tuesday, while Thompson shot par.

Urdahl said Takacs got a lucky kick off a tee shot and then landed a 175-yard approach at a prime position about 15 feet below the hole. His two-putt was enough when Thompson missed a 5-footer to tie.

“His mindset never changed,” Urdahl said. “It was all about keeping one foot in front of the other and playing the next shot.

“His mental toughness was next level.”

Takacs made his third state meet appearance. He improved on previous success, tying for fifth in the 2A meet last year and 18th in 2021. The first-team all-River Valley Conference performer claimed the Regals’ first individual state title in boys’ golf.

Urdahl said he was at a basketball game when he noticed a school state title banner without boys’ golf representation. That will change.

“It feels good to see Mikey take care of business,” Urdahl said, “and for him to be the first person to have his name up there under the boys’ golf banner.”

Hillcrest posted the best team score with 313 for a 650 two-day total, beating runner-up West Fork by five.

Rowan Miller tied for seventh with 156 and Luke Schrock tied for 13th with 160 to pace Hillcrest.

East Buchanan’s Ben Hesner also tied for seventh. Montezuma was fourth at 664. The Braves’ Maguire Dejong shot 154 to tie for fifth.

Roth, a two-time Southeast Conference champion, has powered the Demons all season. He swept his way through the postseason for his second straight state tournament, capturing sectional and district medalist honors. Roth’s title bettered last year’s tie for seventh.

Roth owned a three-stroke lead to start the final round. He more than doubled it with a 2-under 70, matching his 18-hole low this season. Roth notched four birdies and highlighted the round with an eagle on the par-5 No. 10.

He won by six shots overall, topping MOC-Floyd Valley’s runner-up Davis Korver by eight.

Solon placed fifth with a team total of 654. Junior Jack MCarty and sophomore Isaiah Zoske led the way for the Spartans. McCarty was third with 153, while Zoske tied for eighth with 157.

Wamac Conference players littered the top 10. Clear Creek Amana senior Zach McCarty shot 156, including a 77 Tuesday, and tied for fifth. Vinton-Shellsburg’s Carter Lamont and Williamsburg’s Crew Klingner also tied for eighth with 157.

In 2A at Coldwater Golf Links, Dyersville Beckman earned its second straight state runner-up finish. The Blazers shot 305 Tuesday, giving them a two-round total of 611.

Luke Harwick, the 2022 runner-up, was fourth overall, carding 73 for the final round for a 144. Nate Offerman tied for seventh with 149, matching Tipton’s Tristin Sorgenfrey.

Oelwein sophomore Brandon Tournier closed strong, shooting 3-under 68 to place third with a total of 143. He tallied five birdies during the final round, conquering the par-5 holes with two birdies and a par.

Grundy Center freshman Judd Jirovsky was a runaway winner, firing an 11-under 131. He opened with an 8-under 63 and closed with a 3-under 68 Tuesday. Jirovsky helped the Spartans to the team title with a winning total of 597.