Well above par: Roosevelt's Ike Rothman has flourished, leading resurgent boys golf team

Ike Rothman looked up to everyone.

There was almost a reverence shown to his teammates, a group of experienced and established standouts, all of whom his senior.

He still was getting adjusted to scholastic competition while doing his best to get acclimated and blend in. That, he admits, was a “difficult experience.”

“They were supportive, and I always felt like I was part of the team,” Rothman said. “But I had to get used to being around guys who were older than me. I was quiet early on. You don’t want to sound corny and hurt the conversations.”

And, from their perspective, it was sort of like having a younger sibling tag along to an outing. Some of those conversations were altered, the fellas remembering to censor themselves in his presence.

Rothman really did look up to everyone: Because he was a diminutive 11-year-old on what, at the time, was a senior-laden Franklin D. Roosevelt High School boys golf team.

Having skipped a grade, Rothman was young even for a seventh-grader, but his immense talent earned him a spot on the varsity squad in 2019.

“I used to see him a lot at Dinsmore and College Hill (golf courses) and he had a natural ability that stood out,” said Roosevelt coach Kevin Hart, himself an avid golfer. “He’s smart and mature beyond his years. Even at that age, I thought he was ready to play with us and contribute right away.”

Back in 2019: Remsburger, Rothman help Roosevelt capture long-awaited MHAL title

Last spring: Newburgh's Josh Yan wins the Section 9 boys golf championship

Rothman had only competed before in junior golf tournaments, so it was an adjustment just facing other schools. He laughs about it now, remembering how he quietly analyzed his teammates’ conversations and gauged sensibilities, determining how to “mold” his sense of humor to fit theirs.

It’s especially funny now because of how much he has grown — in skill and stature. Rothman in the years since has emerged as a star, becoming a familiar name to local observers. And, as the team has rebuilt around him, the junior now holds a leadership role, the group often turning to him for pointers and encouragement.

They all look up to him. Figuratively.

With a five-inch growth spurt and subtle changes to his mechanics, Rothman is flourishing this fall. He has shot under par in four of his team’s first seven matches, leading the Presidents in a resurgent season.

A highlight was his 3-under 32 in windy conditions at Apple Greens Golf Course in a close win over Marlboro two weeks ago. Hart marveled at the precision and consistency.

Rothman has become such a stalwart that his worst performance thus far — carding a 2-over at Rip Van Winkle in August — would be the envy of most at this level.

“It’s always good to shoot low numbers, but what’s better is the team succeeding,” said Rothman, whose team improved to 5-2 on Monday. “My teammates are starting to shine. We’ve struggled the last couple years, so it’s great to be winning.”

Ian Nelson, Alex Hart, Ryan Talbot, and Ben Tuttle have improved significantly and helped elevate the lineup.

The Presidents have set an attainable goal of contending for their first Mid Hudson Athletic League championship since 2019. This time, with the not-so-little brother as the headliner.

“A lot of guys gravitate to him and look to him for guidance,” Hart said of Rothman, who still is only 15. “With his ability and knowledge, he’s able to teach the less experienced guys.

“He’s serious about what he does, but he’s also got a great sense of humor and is fun to be around. So, he’s a leader without having to force it.”

It wasn’t long before Rothman and his teammates got comfortable with each other and developed a camaraderie back in 2019. And, soon it became obvious that he did belong as a competitor.

He helped the Presidents capture the MHAL title that year and performed well enough in the individual tournament to qualify for what would’ve been the Section 9 championships the next spring. (Would’ve been, had the pandemic not interrupted.)

In the two seasons that followed, Rothman emerged as a challenger for the section title and he has twice come within a stroke of reaching the state tournament.

“It’s a little frustrating coming that close and not getting it,” he said, “but it’s also motivation.”

Par for the course …

Evan Rothman was a writer and editor for various golf publications and, with his family around the sport as much, it wasn’t a surprise that his son took to it.

It began for Ike with plastic clubs, enjoying himself in the backyard. Soon, there were lessons, and a fluid swing caught everyone’s attention. What seemed to be a natural aptitude led eventually to him giving up soccer and immersing himself in this sport as a middle schooler.

“I’m very proud of him,” his dad said. “Ike’s a kind, well-rounded kid. He's learned to handle both success and setbacks, and he’s always trying to improve.”

Rothman, along with New Paltz's Oliver Watson and Loyal Goodermote, are part of a short list of local rivals who dominate consistently.

Hart described him as a “golf-a-holic” with an “incredible” work ethic. After a day of school and practice or competition, Ike routinely heads 13 miles north to Red Hook Golf Club to hit balls on the range. His free time on weekends often is spent playing 36 holes.

That insatiable drive to improve, coupled with his talent, has “catapulted him,” the coach said. Those traits also help him excel in the classroom as a straight-A student.

Ike does have other interests, of course, and he joked that he’s “way more of a normal teenager than people would assume.” He spends an inordinate amount of time on his phone.

But, when his eyes aren’t affixed to group chats and social media, he’s often playing the guitar. That’s been a hobby since the first grade, and he now is a member of Roosevelt’s jazz band. He also stars for the school bowling team. Rothman averaged a 204 last winter and was part of the Section 9 composite team that competed in the state tournament.

“I’m glad that he found the sports that best suit him, too — golf and bowling are both really competition against yourself,” Evan Rothman said. “They’re also social sports where you can talk and make friends, which he’s always been good at.”

Bowling and playing the guitar, like golf, require considerable focus and precision. But, Ike said, it’s good to “get away” from golf for a couple months. Until the ground thaws, at least.

While tinkering with his mechanics last spring, Ike decided to alter his putting grip, opting for a conventional style. That, he said, has impacted his game this autumn.

“I switched from the left hand low,” he explained. “I felt I had the ability to shoot under par, but I struggled sometimes on the greens. Now that I’m putting better, I can be more aggressive. When it worked, it was like, ‘I should’ve been doing this the whole time.’”

It helped, too, that he grew five inches to 5-foot-10 this year. The height has helped him gain leverage and added power in his swing.

Ike aspires to play collegiately and, as good as he is now, there still is tremendous upside and the potential for a great deal more, given his age. He still is growing physically, and his game likely will continue to evolve.

Hart foresees him following a similar path as Jeffrey Peters, a former Roosevelt golfer who starred at Saint Peter’s University.

“His iron play and his seriousness about the game is what has separated him from a lot of high school golfers,” the coach said. “I really see him becoming one of the best golfers to come out of the area in a long time.”

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Boys golf: Rothman has helped Roosevelt reemerge as title contender