Happel’s hard work leads to golf gains

CEDAR RAPIDS - Nile Happel earned the nickname 'Mensa” from his coach Steve Koepke.

The Cedar Rapids Jefferson golfer was tagged that after working on AP Chemistry in the van ride to a golf meet earlier this season. It could also apply to the way he studied his game to become a better golfer.

Happel has made major strides in a year, going from an honorable-mention all-Metro selection last year to contending for all-conference honors this season. He currently sits in sixth place with the final Mississippi Valley Conference Valley divisional set for Monday at The Meadows Golf Course in Dubuque.

Happel said he has a cumulative grade-point average well over 4.0 and ranks third in the junior class. Similarities exist between progress on the course and in the classroom.

'Patience is the biggest thing,” said Happel, who plans to major in business and would like to extend his golf career into college. 'If you don't pick up on something right away, you need patience until it starts to click.”

Happel shot 73 in the MVC Super Meet and 87 at the first of two divisional meets. He averages more than seven strokes better this season in 18-hole events, coming in at 82.40 per round. His low round came in the opening round at Jones Golf Course and was 11 strokes better than his best 18-hole scores in 2014.

'I saw bits and pieces of it during the summer,” said Happel, receiving a confidence boost from a round of the Cedar Rapids Optimist Junior Golf Association. 'I shot 74 and I knew I could put scores together.”

Happel worked with Dean Capesius, a golf coach in Algona. He also credited the Performance Physical Education program at Jefferson for some advancement.

Koepke appropriately quipped that success only precedes work in the dictionary. Happel has been a prime example of the benefits of dedication. He was a regular at the golf course during the summer, hitting at Ellis when he wasn't playing baseball for the J-Hawks.

'There's no secret,” Koepke said. 'It's just work. he paid for his range pass by April. He made himself into a golfer due to his work.”

Happel has developed more accuracy off the tee. He works on his wedge play each day and putting continues to improve. Scores have dropped in part to hitting the fairway regularly.

'He has a very consistent driver,” Koepke said. 'He puts his ball in play as well as anybody in the conference.”

As for his nickname, Koepke described Happel as a bright kid who is near the top of his class. Koepke said Happel is a good listener and is coachable. He has transferred the knowledge he gained to teammates, attempting to help them get better.

'He's taken some other guys and shared what he has learned,” Koepke said. 'It's a neat process to see him grow.”

In his final hole of play at the J-Hawks home course this year, Happel carded a birdie. He claimed co-medalist honors, helping Jefferson match Iowa City West before losing on a tiebreaker (better fifth lowest score).

'I was proud of him,” said Koepke, who noted Adam Van Oort has a chance for all-conference recognition. 'It was cool.”

The top goals are all-conference honors and a berth to the state tournament, which will be held at Elmcrest Country Club in October. The success provides optimism for the added gains that can be made between now and his senior season.

'Getting a taste,” Happel said, 'shows how much better I can get for next season.”

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