Linn-Mar ready to compete for state golf berth at tough Class 4A district

Linn-Mar’s last state tournament appearance came a year before any of the current players joined the team.

Four years ago, to be exact.

The Lions are ready to end that stretch when they compete in the Class 4A district boys’ golf meet Monday at Thunder Hills Country Clun in Peosta. Despite a balanced and challenging field, they are contenders for one of three berths to the state tournament Oct. 14-15 at Briarwood Country Club in Ankeny.

“It’s been a few years,” Linn-Mar’s Christian Cloyd said. “I was on the 2022 team and we had confidence back then but all the guys on the team are all hard workers. I don’t think there is another team in Iowa that puts in as much time as we do.”

Linn-Mar Coach Chris James said the Lions have progressed along with the season. He trusts they can peak for the postseason.

“I like how we’ve competed in recent 18-hole meets,” James said. “I think that gives us some confidence heading into districts.”

Linn-Mar is fresh off a Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division championship, topping district foes Cedar Rapids Xavier and host Western Dubuque. The divisional title was a steppingstone of sorts, allowing the Lions to check that off the list of aspirations and refocused on a bigger one.

“We all knew we wanted to win the division,” said Cloyd, who placed 12th at last year’s 4A state meet. “Our regular-season goal was to win the division. We did that and now we’re in the postseason. We all have the same goal (qualify for state).”

The Lions have a strong bond. They surrounded a table, waiting for the final MVC divisional scores to be announced and exchanged some good-natured ribbing. They also talked about their stats with James and demonstrated good chemistry. It has helped them build a complete team and one that could advance.

Cloyd ranks seventh in 4A with a 36.54 combined adjusted average, helping the team to 16 th in the team standings. Max Faulkner, Ben Steenrod and Dylan Heater each have a CAA under 40. Trevor Denny and Kael Smith fill out the lineup at 40.68 and 41.01, respectively.

“We have a lot of depth,” Cloyd said. “Our (Nos.) 5 and 6 could even count, which is really good to have, going into Monday. I believe in everyone on this team.”

James said the Lions must manage the course well. Thunder Hills can punish golfers, playing out of position. A steady approach is vital.

“We’ll need to make sure we stay patient on tougher holes as well,” James said. “Typically, at a course like Thunder Hills, it’s usually the teams who limit their mistakes who are successful. We will need to limit any bad holes to bogey and not make double-bogey or worse.”

The stacked field includes No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert, No. 5 Pleasant Valley, No. 13 Xavier, 19 th-ranked Central DeWitt and No. 21 Cedar Rapids Prairie.

The Saints are attempting to earn their third straight state berth and second under two-year head coach Brandon Schiltz. Like the Lions, the Saints concentration is center on state.

“It’s a huge goal, and we take on a different level of focus and concentration, especially when districts approach,” Schiltz said. “We have a ton of fun along the way, which keeps things balanced and helps us play our best.”

Xavier has tried to clean up the short game, working on wedges, converting short putts and avoiding three-putts. They have also found time for light-hearted team-building exercises like rounds of mini-golf and 2-on-2 scrambles. It’s a way to enter the postseason with the right frame of mind.

“We try not to let the game control our emotions,” Schiltz said, “and these activities helped strengthen our focus and camaraderie, and most importantly, we have fun doing it.”

Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Washington, Clinton, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior and Mason City round out the field in Peosta.

Iowa City High, Iowa City West and Iowa City Liberty will travel to Ottumwa for a district, including Ankeny, Bettendorf, Burlington, all four Davenport schools, Muscatine, North Scott, Southeast Polk and West Des Moines Valley.

The Little Hawks are trying to secure a second consecutive state appearance. City High’s Jack Rogers will look to get back to state, tying for fourth there a year ago.

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