Iowa's best high school boys golfers: Meet the state's top sophomores
By Barry Poe
As the Iowa high school spring golf season winds down, we are taking a look at some of the top boys performers. Today, we highlight the sophomores. Remember, only Class 1A, 2A and 3A compete in the spring. The Class 4A boys play in the fall. This is not a comprehensive list as there are many outstanding prep golfers in Iowa.
Isaiah Zoske, Solon
Zoske tied for 10th in the Class 3A state tournament as a freshman, carding 82-79—161. He was a district medalist with an 18-hole average of 78.43. This season, Zoske has a 74.00 average and ranks first among 3A golfers with a 37.48 combined adjusted average. One of four starters returning from a state runner-up team.
Nolan Reser, North Butler
Reser was 12th in the Class 1A state meet as a freshman, shooting 85-87—172. He has charted four nine-hole rounds in competition this season, averaging 41.25 with a combined adjusted average of 42.10.
Landyn Vossberg, Akron-Westfield
Vossberg finished 15th in the 1A state meet last season, shooting 177 at Ames Golf & Country Club. Akron-Westfield finished third as a team, with sophomore Carter Wilken and Vossberg leading the way. Vossberg was an All-War Eagle Conference honoree.
Carson Costello, Dike-New Hartford
Costello tied for 17th in the Class 2A state meet at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, shooting 77-80—157. Costello posted a 74 in his only 18-hole round in competition thus far this season and averages 41.60 for nine holes and has a combined adjusted average of 41.57.
Tatum Wilkens, Akron-Westfield
Another returning player from the Westerners’ third-place 1A state team, Wilkens tied for 25th individually. He has an average of 43.80 in five nine-hole rounds this season.
Gage Heyne, English Valleys
Heyne competed in the 1A state meet as a freshman, tying for 28th individually. He is one of four starters returning from English Valley’s fifth-place squad and finished second on the team with averages of 90 (18 holes) and 45.0 (combined adjusted average). Heyne is off to a strong start this season, averaging 38.00 for nine holes and 40.50 combined adjusted average.
Preston Martens, Grundy Center
Martens tied for 29th in the 2A state meet last season and averages 39.50 for nine holes with a combined adjusted average of 40.20, ninth among sophomores. He recently shot 74 in the Aplington-Parkersburg tournament.
Ryan Lynch, Gilbert
Lynch tied for 37th in the 3A state meet at Veenker Golf Course in Ames, helping Gilbert win the team title. Lynch has averages of 80.50 and 38.67 this season.
Heath Voigt, Osage
Voigt tied for 37th in the 2A state meet last season as a freshman with a 168. He shot 78 in a district final and helped Osage reach state as a team for the first time. Voigt is averaging 43.29 for nine holes thus far this season.
Grant Jansen, ADM
Jansen placed 40th in the 3A state meet last season. He currently ranks second among sophomores with a 36.50 nine-hole average and is averaging 76.75 for 18 holes. ADM recently beat defending state champion Gilbert in a dual, with Jansen shooting even-par 36.
Carter Madison, ADM
With Madison and Grant Jansen, ADM has a potent one-two punch at the top of its lineup and they’re both just sophomores. Madison tied for 44th in the 3A state meet as a freshman and has averages of 37.50 for nine holes and 80.50 for 18 holes.
Austin Stene, Lake Mills
Stene was part of a Lake Mills team that ran away from the field in the 1A state meet at Ames Golf and Country Club, winning by 16 shots. Stene was 56th individually and has averaged 41.75 in his four nine-hole rounds this season.
Hudson White, Gilbert
Gilbert won its second straight Class 3A title last season, with White helping the cause by finishing 59th individually as a freshman. Gilbert will once again be strong this season with Ryan Lynch and White leading the way. White has averaged 40.33 for nine holes and 82.0 for 18, with a combined adjusted average of 42.20.
Chase Jahde, CAM
Jahde had an outstanding freshman season, ranking ninth among ninth graders with an 18-hole average of 84.0 and has high expectations for this season. He has recorded nine 9-hole scores this season, averaging 38.00.
Max Anderson, Montezuma
Anderson has a combined adjusted average of 40.87 for an undefeated Montezuma squad this season. He has averaged 38.43 for nine holes and Montezuma owns the best team adjusted average among 1A schools.
Tycen Van Zee, Hull Western Christian
Van Zee’s stat line includes a couple of nine-hole and 18-hole rounds and he’s averaging 38.50 and 80.50 with a combined adjusted mark of 40.28. Van Zee finished 43rd in the 2A state meet as a freshman and Western tied for fifth as a team.
Brandon Tournier, Oelwein
Tournier qualified for a district meet as a freshman, shooting 80 to tie for second in sectional play. He has an average of 38.67 over nine holes this season.
Ethan Anderson, Oelwein
Anderson isn’t far behind teammate Brandon Tournier, averaging 39.13 for nine holes. Anderson competed in the Iowa Boys Junior PGA Championship last summer.
Brenden Wright, Ballard
Wright recently earned medalist honors in the Nevada Invitational with a 77. He averages 41.35 with a combined adjusted average of 44.01.
Caleb Campbell, Aplington-Parkersburg
Campbell is off to an impressive start to his sophomore season, shooting an average of 39.98 for nine holes and 77.40 for 18. Aplington-Parkersburg (8-1) just suffered its first dual loss of the season, but by just one shot to defending 2A state champion Hudson.
Max Schuchmann, Waterloo Columbus
Schuchmann has a combined adjusted average of 41.79 and scores 40.60 as an average over nine holes. He tied for seventh in the Cedar Valley Junior PGA Tour Championship over the summer, shooting 78-82.
Ben Krambeer, MFL MarMac
Krambeer was the Upper Iowa Conference tournament champion last season and is averaging 41.16 per nine holes and 83.70 for 18. Krambeer has been one of the team’s leaders as a sophomore as the Bulldogs recently shot 159 in back-to-back duals, believed to be the lowest scores in school history.
Cael Schofield, Albia
Schofield has an average of 79.85 for 18 holes and recently earned medalist honors at the North/South Invitational with a 74. Schofield made his first career hole-in-one last summer, acing the 356-yard par-4 ninth hole at Albia Golf Club.
Kaden Barrett, Hinton
Barrett was a second team All-War Eagle Conference honoree as a freshman. He is shooting an average of 41.40 this season and has already earned three medalist honors in conference meets.
Tristan Hayes, Atlantic
Hayes has a combined adjusted average of 41.83, averaging 41.55 for nine holes and 84.23 for 18, although he has shot a 76 this season. Hayes qualified for a district meet as a freshman.
Mason Gatchel, Ballard
Gatchel was a breakout performer for the Bombers as a freshman last season. He shot 86 in a sectional meet and was medalist in five meets.
Aidan Zirtzman, West Delaware
Zirtzman has an average of 41.48 (nine holes) and 85.00 (18 holes). In his most recent outing, despite playing in frigid temperatures, Zirtzman shot 79 for medalist honors in the West Delaware Invite.
Cael Nixon, Webster City
Nixon recently posted his lowest nine-hole round of the season with 39. He has a combined adjusted average of 43.09.
Macoy Peyton, West Delaware
Payton shot a 74 in the Dyersville Beckman tournament last week. He has an average of 82.40 for 18 holes and 42.65 for nine. He and classmate Aidan Zirtzman are the team leaders for a young West Delaware squad.
