Cedar Rapids Kennedy earns runner-up finish to return to state golf meet

PEOSTA — The tension was nearly palpable.

The stress was felt by players, coaches, parents and even Western Dubuque Athletics Director Tyler Lown, who was in charge of checking and double-checking scores, verifying rules and tiebreakers.

The cause was a tight team race that seemed to change with each made putt, missed shot and signed card submitted. The final standings were not determined until the final score was reported.

In the end, Cedar Falls demonstrated its dominance, shooting 287 and winning by 21 strokes, runner-up Cedar Rapids Kennedy got some breathing room from the clotted flow of teams with a 308 and Dubuque Wahlert won a tiebreaker for third as one of three teams at 311 at the Class 4A district Monday at Thunder Hills Country Club.

All three advanced to state Friday and Saturday at Beaver Hills Country Club in Cedar Falls. The Cougars qualified for the second time in three seasons.

“They have been working really, really hard,” Kennedy Coach Mike Green said. “They were so close last year to making it. Getting here and the amount of work they have put in is gratifying for them. They put in the work, the time and now we get to go to the state meet.”

Kennedy overcame a slow start and had to rely on its depth to help propel the team to state. Reid Hall shot 75 to lead the way (Kennedy’s last score recorded to move it into second). The Cougars’ No. 4 golfer Carter Vander Zee carded 76 and No. 5 Brody Gilkison shot 77. Gannon Hall rounded out Kennedy’s total with an 80.

“We know every shot counts out here,” Gilkison said. “I just wanted to put the best score possible. I wasn’t really thinking about other guys were shooting. I kind of have an idea when I’m out there.

“You never know. We only won by three shots. If I let three shots slip, who knows where we would have been.”

The Cougars own the luxury of their top six being able to score any day. They don’t have to count on one specific golfer to shoot low. Kennedy also showed its resilience, grinding out the round and second place when not at its best.

“It’s kind of nice when you don’t play as well as you can and still make it through,” Green said. “It was a really nice win for the kids.

“Brody and Carter shooting what they did was a huge help. It talks about the depth they have.”

The Cougars have been rated in the top five all season. Green said they have topped Cedar Falls a couple times this season. Kennedy aspires to claim a trophy Saturday.

“We can make a run at the championship,” Gilkison said. “We’re as good as any team out there. No reason we can’t put on a good showing and maybe win.”

Cedar Rapids Washington’s Nile Petersen was the top Metro finisher, placing third with 2-over 73. He came in behind Cedar Falls medalist Max Tjoa, who shot 4-under 67, and Tigers teammate Jordan Nelson at 72. Western Dubuque’s Brock Wilson and Marshalltown’s Grant Greazel shot 3-over 74 and qualified individually.

Petersen was the state runner-up in 2019 but did not qualify last season. He captured one more chance to contend for a title.

“I’m just super excited,” Petersen said. “Obviously, missing out last year was a lot of motivation to play well today.”

The theme was “No excuses” for Petersen. He maintained a positive mentality and short memory, taking responsibility for mistakes and resetting for the next shot. Petersen managed birdies on the par-3 11th hole and par-5 No. 13.

“If you make a bad shot, just own up to it and that’s the only way you’re going to get better,” Petersen said. “I tried to own every shot I hit. For me, I just wanted to learn from it, move on and forget about it.”

Petersen noted that the qualifier is more stressful than state. He has survived the first leg and now the fun starts for the final two rounds of his prep career.

“This meet is the most nerve-racking, because you just want to make it there,” Petersen said. “Once you’re there, it’s about playing well and let everything out.”

The 14-team field included seven of the top 17 teams in 18-hole average. Cedar Falls and Kennedy were top-five teams, but the rest were bunched from 11th to No. 17. The seven teams that placed second through eighth were separated by a mere eight strokes.

Washington Coach Dennis Goettel said he couldn’t remember a district as competitive for the final two spots. The Warriors and Marshalltown tied Wahlert at 311. The Golden Eagles had the best fifth individual score with three players coming in at 79 for their final two scores and the tiebreaker, while Marshalltown’s fifth was 83 and Washington’s was 84.

Marshalltown was fourth, Washington fifth and Cedar Rapids Xavier was sixth at 312. The host Bobcats were seventh with 315, edging eighth-place Iowa City West by one.

“We have a really good district, but it’s just golf sometimes,” Petersen said about the Warriors just missing a state berth in a competitive event. “It happens. Luckily, we have a young team. They can still learn from this and hopefully it powers them like it did me.”

Class 4A boys’ golf district at Peosta

(Thunder Hills Country Club, par 71)

Teams – 1. Cedar Falls 287*, 2. C.R. Kennedy 308*, 3. Dubuque Wahlert 311**, 4. Marshalltown 311, 5. C.R. Washington 311, 6. C.R. Xavier 312, 7. Western Dubuque 315, 8. Iowa City West 316, 9. C.R. Jefferson 324, 10. Dubuque Hempstead 332, 11. Waterloo West 336, 12. Dubuque Senior 337, 13. Iowa City High 377, 14. Waterloo East 378.

Individuals – 1. Max Tjoa (CF), 67, 2. Jordan Nelson (CF), 72, 3. Nile Petersen (CRW)*, 73, 4. (tie) Jack Beecher (CF), Owen Sawyer (CF), Brock Wilson (WD)* and Grant Greazel (Mar), 74.

*-State qualifier

**-won tiebreaker with best fifth individual score.

KENNEDY (308): Reid Hall 75, Carter Vander Zee 76, Brody Gilkison 77, Gannon Hall 80

WASHINGTON (311): Petersen 73, Ben Blocklinger 76, Zack Brown 79, Nathan McDermott 83

XAVIER (312): Quincey Johnson 76, Ryan Schmit 76, Garrett Nurre 79, Grant Allen 81, Will Grainger 81

I.C. WEST (316): Owen Larson 79, Dillon Croco 79, Landon Peoples 79, Cole Collier 79

JEFFERSON (324): Jacob Strain 75, Landon Augustine 79, Logan Miller 85, Adam Panoch 85

CITY HIGH (377): Arthur Hall 89, Zachary Meredith 95, Nicholas Meredith 96, Ethan Nace 97.