Linn-Mar’s Christian Cloyd, Cedar Rapids Xavier capture Class 4A district golf titles

CEDAR FALLS – Linn-Mar’s Christian Cloyd didn’t want to squander a prime performance.

The Lions senior finished his initial golf round with 4-under 68 but found himself in a sudden-victory playoff with Dubuque Wahlert’s Connor Walsh for top honors.

“It was to win,” Cloyd said about his approach to the playoff. “Simple as that. I worked really hard today to play (well), so I wanted to finish with a win.”

Cloyd carded a par to Walsh’s bogey on the third playoff hole to claim the individual medal and Cedar Rapids Xavier posted 281 for the team title at the Class 4A district boys’ golf tournament Monday at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course. The Saints and Linn-Mar will advance to the state tournament Oct. 13-14 at Hyperion Field Club in Johnston.

“I couldn’t be more excited to go into Monday and Tuesday with my team,” Cloyd said. “The feeling is unmatched (versus) just going yourself.”

Cloyd will make his third straight state appearance, placing eighth and 12th the last two seasons. He recorded four birdies and added an eagle on the par-5 No. 8 hole.

Teammate Max Faulkner shot 2-under 70 to help lead the Lions back to state for the first time since 2020. Parker Ridgway’s 80 and 81 form Trevor Denny rounded out Linn-Mar’s score.

Both Cloyd and Faulkner finished strong.

“They made some clutch putts down the stretch,” Linn-Mar Coach Chris James said. “Christian was 4-under on last seven holes. Max was 2-under on his last three. Both got up-and-down out of the bunker for on their last hole. … It was cool to see. Those guys really led us today.

“I was happy with how our third, fourth, fifth and sixth golfers battled, especially coming down the stretch as well.”

Xavier returns to state after a year hiatus. The Saints topped Wahlert by three strokes and have continued their success against Eastern Iowa programs.

“It means a lot for our boys and our program,” Xavier Coach Brandon Schiltz said. “They’ve put in the work all year and truly earned this. I’m proud to see their commitment and focus pay off with another trip to state.”

Xavier was paced by Logan Otting, who placed fifth with 71. He ended with three birdies and came in at 1-under 35 on the back nine. Seniors Jacob Schmit and Pranay Monga scored 73 apiece and freshman Harrison Hartke added 74. All six Saints shot well enough to score for 12 of the other 13 teams.

“The boys really locked in over the last six holes,” Schiltz said. “They showed incredible composure and mental toughness when it mattered most.”

CLASS 4A DISTRICTS

At Cedar Falls

(Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, par 72)

Teams – 1. *C.R. Xavier 291, 2. *Dubuque Wahlert 294, 3. *Linn-Mar 299, 4. Cedar Falls 301, 5. Dubuque Senior 309, 6. C.R. Prairie 310, 7. Iowa City West 312, 8. Waterloo West 316, 9. C.R. Kennedy 319, 10. C.R. Washington 328, 11. Dubuque Hempstead 330, 12. Western Dubuque 332, 13. C.R. Jefferson 363, 14. Waterloo East 391.

Individuals – 1. Christian Cloyd (LM), 68**; 2. Connor Walsh (DW), 68; 3. (tie) Ethan Boyle (CF) and Max Faulkner (LM), 70; 5. Logan Otting (CRX), 71.

Individual state qualifiers – Boyle (CF), Drew Larimer (CF), Colton McCollaugh (DS) and Jay McCausland (WW)

*-State qualifying teams.

**-Won sudden-victory playoff.

XAVIER (291): Otting 71, Jacob Schmit 73, Pranay Monga 73, Harrison Hartke 74.

LINN-MAR (299): Cloyd 68, Faulkner 70, Parker Ridgway 80, Trevor Denny 81.

PRAIRIE (310): Henry Sobaski 75, Emmett Stockdale 77, Tony Boelter 79, Jeter Lewis 79, Connor Columbus 79.

I.C. WEST (312): Pierce Hribar 74, Isaac Wendt 78, Jack MacLagan 81, Jack Jensen-Fitzpatrick 81.

KENNEDY (319): Kael Haugen 76, Leo Koester 77, Tyler Trudo 79, Easton Swanson 87.

WASHINGTON (328): Cal Slessor 78, Dan Holladay 81, Connor Fitzgerald 84, Todd Barker Jr. 85.

JEFFERSON (363): Maddux Armstrong 89, Cole Fisher 90, Colton Fee 92, Carter Davis 92.

At Davenport

(Emeis Golf Course, par 72)

Teams – 1. *Pleasant Valley 280, 2. *North Scott 286, 3. *Bettendorf 296, 4. Central DeWitt 304, 5. Iowa City Liberty 311, 6. Iowa City High 324**, 7.Davenport Assumption 324, 8. Ottumwa 331, 9. Muscatine 343, 10. Davenport North 354, 11. Davenport Central 369, 12. Clinton 381, 13. Davenport West 405**, 14. Burlington 405.

Individuals – 1. Ben Livingston (PV), 66, 2. (tie) Brady Huskey (Bett) and Vaughn Roseman (NS), 68; 4. (tie) Jaxon Adkisson (NS), Zander Panek (PV) and Grant Sherrick (PV), 70.

Individual state qualifiers – Max Froeschle (CD) and Lawson Perrone (CD)

*-State qualifying teams.

**-Won tiebreaker with better fifth-player score.

I.C. LIBERTY (311): Brooks Andersen 75, Kade Baxter 75, Sam Perry 80, Joel Bilskemper 81.

CITY HIGH (324): Will Feagler 76, Henry Birt 81, Jack Rogers 82, Del Brewer 85, Jack Fleming 85.

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