Cedar Rapids Xavier breaks boys’ golf team scoring mark for 2nd straight season

SOLON — The van ride home sounds almost as fun as the golf.

Usually, it’s a festive atmosphere around the tight-knit Cedar Rapids Xavier crew. The tunes might be a bit louder with extra hoots and hollers to celebrate a school record.

“It’s a little crazy,” Xavier sophomore Logan Otting said with a laugh. “Some questionable music choices but a lot of laughter and fun times on the way home.”

The Saints posted 290 and finished second at the Cedar Rapids Washington Warrior Invitational on Thursday at Saddleback Golf Course. Johnston won the team title with a 7-under 281, while Waukee freshman Jonathan Ward fired 7-under 65 for individual medalist honors.

Xavier set the school mark for the second straight season, beating last year’s 292 total.

“We’ve been practicing really hard,” Xavier second-year coach Brandon Schiltz said. “The boys have been playing a lot of golf this summer. It really paid off. We had a good conversation yesterday about it, too.”

The Saints were state qualifiers last season and returned four starters. High expectations accompanied this season. Thursday’s field was loaded with many top Class 4A teams. Xavier showed how competitive it can be.

“I think it does (show our potential),” Saints junior Jacob Schmit said. “It’s cool to see the four scores that counted are all returning next year so it shows our potential for next year, which is really good.

“Johnston had a very impressive score. I think we have a lot moving forward the rest of this year and next year.”

Otting and Pranay Monga led the way for the Saints. Each shot 72. Monga eagled the par-4 No. 3 hole. Otting posted four birdies for even-par 36 out and in. He said hitting fairways and greens helped, but Xavier has focused on improved putting.

“We’ve worked a lot on (putts) inside 10 feet, which helped, because of how fast the greens are,” Otting said. “If one of us wouldn’t hit a lag putt as close as we wanted, we’ve been able to hit the comeback putts, which has really helped.”

Consistency and depth played a factor in the overall performance. Schmit and Jack Pauly each added 73. Xavier and Johnston were the only teams to have all four scorers at 73 and under.

“I could go on about every single one of them and how impressive they are,” Schiltz said. “Jacob Schmit has been playing outstanding golf all year long. Jack Pauly is probably the most improved kid in the state. Just totally showing up for us this year. A huge part of our team. Everybody knows Logan. He’s a great golfer and he shows up for us constantly. Pranay has been clicking for us all season. His average is currently the lowest on the team.

“Nothing but good things from us. I’m a very happy coach. I’ll put it that way.”

Ward ran away with individual honors, torching the front with 31 and carding three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 9. He added three more birdies on the back and played just one hole over par.

Iowa City High’s Jack Rogers was the top local finisher. He placed fifth with a 2-under 70. The field featured 10 of the top 20 individuals and 11 of the top 20 teams in the state.

“It’s incredible,” Schiltz said. “There are a lot of great golfers here. This is some of the best golf I’ve seen in high school. It’s pretty cool to be among some of the best.”

Cedar Rapids Washington Warrior Invitational

At Solon

(Saddleback Golf Course, par 72)

Teams – 1. Johnston 281, 2. C.R. Xavier 290, 3. West Des Moines Dowling 291, 4. Southeast Polk 294, 5. North Scott 297*, 6. Cedar Falls 297*, 7. Waukee 297, 8. Linn-Mar 301*, 9. Moline (Ill.) 301*, 10. Bettendorf 301, 11. Dubuque Wahlert 306, 12. Indianola 308, 13. C.R. Prairie 309, 14. Iowa City High 311, 15. C.R. Kennedy 317*, 16. Marshalltown 317, 17. Des Moines Roosevelt 323, 18. C.R. Washington 344

Individuals – 1. Jonathan Ward (Wau), 65, 2. (tie) Dewell Anderson (WDMD), Andrew Johannsen (J) and Lucas Laffoon (J), 69, 5. Jack Rogers (ICH), 70

XAVIER (290): Logan Otting 72, Pranay Monga 72, Jacob Schmit 73, Jack Pauly 73

LINN-MAR (301): Christian Cloyd 73, Max Faulkner 73, Dylan Heater 77, Ben Steenrod 78, Kael Smith 79

PRAIRIE (309): Henry Sobaski 77, Tony Boelter 77, Emmett Stockdale 77, Keaton Kiekar 78

CITY HIGH (311): Rogers 70, Zach Meredith 78, Will Feagler 81, Henry Birt 82, Nick Meredith 82

KENNEDY (317): Leo Koester 73, Blake Paulson 81, Jayce Hall 81, Brayden Brueggemeyer 82, Trey McKowen 82

WASHINGTON (344): Preston Haefner 74, Todd Barker Jr. 85, Connor Brown 91, Daniel Holladay 94

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