Judd Jirvorsky's record-setting performance highlights spring boys state golf tournament
Washington's Roman Roth kept his cool, changed things up a bit and stepped up on the tougher holes to bring home an individual state championship at the Class 3A boys golf tournament held Monday and Tuesday at the Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.
Roth shot a one-under-par score of 143 over 36 holes to win the tournament in convincing fashion. He beat MOC-Floyd Valley's Davis Korver by eight strokes for 3A state medalist.
"It feels pretty good," Roth said. "It gives me a little confidence."
Roth shot a 73 over the first 18 holes Monday then shaved three strokes off that score Tuesday. He picked up an eagle on Hole 10, which was a par 5, and also birdied two more par 5s in Holes 7 and 9 during Tuesday's competition.
"I think the par 5s really helped me," Roth said. "Par 3s I kind of struggled with, but later on I started playing a little better."
Switching clubs a few times also helped.
"I hit my driver on some I probably shouldn't have hit driver," Roth said. "It worked out. The driver treated me well this week."
Roth placed seventh at state on the same course a year ago. He is just a junior, so he will get another crack at Veenker and a possible repeat championship in 2024.
"I'm going to play some summer golf tournaments and see where it takes me," Roth said.
The other golfers besides Roth and Korver (151) to medal in 3A were Solon's Jack McCarty (153), MOC-Floyd Valley's Carson Korver (154), Clear Creek-Amana's Zachary McCarty (156), Gilbert's Zachary Wilson (156) and Knoxville's Kail Arkema (156).
In team competition MOC-Floyd Valley ended Gilbert's two-year reign atop 3A. The Dutchmen shot a 629, scoring a 319 on the first day and cutting nine strokes off that score Tuesday.
The Dutchmen beat Knoxville by 14 strokes for the championship. Gilbert came in third with a score of 645.
"I'm just very thankful," MOC-Floyd Valley coach Brady Baker said. "You've got to have great parents and you've got to have really good players, and you've got to play well at the right time. We're excited."
The Korvers led the way for the Dutchmen. Cody Brenneman placed 14th with a 159 and Jackson Van Den Bosch tied for 21st with a 165 to complete the scoring for MOC-Floyd Valley.
Grundy Center freshman Judd Jirovsky sets record in 2A tournament
Judd Jirovsky made quite a big impression during his first state golf tournament.
The Grundy Center freshman won medalist at the 2A state tournament with a record-setting performance. Jirovsky shot an amazing 11 under-par over the two days, finishing with a 131 to set the all-time 36-hole record.
Jirovsky won the tournanment by an impressive 11 strokes over Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove's Axton Miller, who shot a 142.
The other 2A medalists were Oelwein's Brandon Tournier (143), Beckman Catholic's Luke Harwick (144), East Marshall's Cody Weaver (145), Hudson's Caleb Ham (148), Tipton's Tristin Sorgenfrey (149) and Beckman Catholic's Nathan Offerman (149).
Jirovsky's dominant performance helped Grundy Center cruise to the 2A team championship. The Spartans shot a 597 as a team to beat Beckman Catholic (611) and Hudson (618) for first.
Mikey Takacs, Keith Thompson pace 1A field
Regina Catholic's Mikey Takacs won a sudden-victory playoff against Hamburg freshman Keith Thompson for medalist at the 1A state tournament held at the Ames Golf and Country Club in Ames.
Takacs and Thompson both shot a 148 over the two days. Gehlen Catholic's Dawson Barthole was third with a 152, CAM's Chase Jahde took third with a 153 and Montezuma's McGuire DeJong and North Butler's Nolan Reser tied for fifth with a 154. There was a three-way tie for seventh with West Fork's Sage Suntken, East Buchanan's Ben Hesner and Hillcrest Academy's Rowan Miller each carding a 156.
Hillcrest Academy won the 1A team title with a 650. West Fork pushed the Ravens hard before settling for second with a 655 and Kingsley-Pierson was third with a 660.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Judd Jirvorsky shoots record score at 2A boys state golf tournament
