Iowa high school boys’ spring golf 2022: Area players and teams to watch

Here are some of the Gazette area individuals and teams to watch during the 2022 Iowa high school boys’ golf spring season.

Players to watch

Will Bridges, jr., West Branch — Placed sixth at last year’s 2A state tournament, Led Bears with 40.98 combined adjusted average, shooting 39.67 for nine holes and 80 per 18-hole round.

Dylan Countryman, sr., West Branch — 2019 Class 2A state runner-up and two-time state participant, owned 41.33 nine-hole and 80.46 18-hole averages with a combined adjusted average of 41.48.

Frank Haege, sr., Solon — Tied for 15th at 3A state meet, first-team all-Wamac, sectional medalist, rercorded 40.3 combined adjusted average, carded 39.57 per nine and 77.57 for 18.

Ben Hesner, jr., East Buchanan — Tied for 16th at 1A state meet, placed third in Tri-Rivers West divisional, averaged 41.33 over nine holes and 85.29 for seven 18-hole rounds with 43.62 combined adjusted average.

Jack McCarty, soph., Solon — Placed sixth at 3A state tournament, first-team all-Wamac, averaged 41.29 per nine holes and 78.57 over 18 with a 41.21 combined adjusted average.

Jaydon Nabb, soph., North Cedar — Tied for 16th at 1A state tournament, carded 40 per nine holes and 83.10 over 18-hole rounds with a 42.12 combined adjusted average.

Nate Offerman, jr., Dyersville Beckman — Defending Class 2A state champion, first-team all-Wamac, sectional medalist, averaged 39.58 per nine holes with an adjusted average of 40.94, shot 77.38 per 18 holes.

» Dyersville Beckman’s Nate Offerman parlays determination into golfing success

Bob Ryan, sr., Tipton — Placed third at 2A state meet last year, River Valley Conference champion, posted combined adjusted average of 39.87, averaging 37.8 per nine holes and 78.38 for 18.

Teams to watch

Dyersville Beckman — The Blazers qualified for the 2A state tournament last season and return four starters, including titlist Nate Offerman. Sophomore T.J. Thier was second on the team in scoring average. Ty Rausch, Noah Boge and Brady Boeckenstedt also return with experience. Beckman ranked eighth in 2A with a 333.5 18-hole team average.

East Buchanan — The Buccaneers placed third at the 1A state tournament last season. Four of the state participants are back. With plenty of experience and golfers able to shoot low, East Buchanan has a strong shot to return to state and contend for a trophy.

Solon — The 3A state runners-up return their top three scorers from last year’s state tournament. Jack McCarty, Franke Haege and Mac McCarty all finished in the top 16 and Brennan Heesch gives Solon four with state experience. The Spartans swept the Wamac East and Super Meet titles a year ago. They could take the next step for a state title.

West Branch — Defending 2A state champions are loaded for Bear (pun intended). The Bears return five players from their title team, including Will Bridges, who placed sixth, and 2019 state runner-up Dylan Countryman. Brady Knoop, Logan Highly and Gage Gingerich give them strong balance and the ability to shoot low. A repeat is certainly possible.