Williasmburg boys head to state golf

Williamsburg is one of 10 teams competing in this week’s (May 22-23) Class 3A boys’ state golf tournament at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.

The Raiders got there via a district championship Monday, May 15, at Bos Landen Golf Course, Pella.

Williamsburg’s 18-hole total of 322 strokes was two lower than Knoxville’s second place 324, and six down on Washington’s third place 328. Host Pella was fourth.

Raiders coach Brad Schaefer knew it was going to be a challenge to get through districts, noting the Panthers, who beat them by four strokes at sectionals, and Tigers have solid teams, and Pella is always tough at home.

But advance they did, surviving what was as an intense battle from the get-go. Williamsburg started on the back nine and made the turn with a 165, one shot up on Knoxville and two on Grinnell, both of which began play on the front nine.

All three teams scored better the rest of the way in, but the Raiders’ 157 couldn’t be matched by the Panthers (158) or Tigers (161).

Juniors Crew Klinger and Bryce Yearian, and seniors Zach Glandorf and Trey O’Neil, led Williamsburg’s trek to state.

Klinger fired a six-over-par 78 on rounds of 40 and 38 to tie individually for third place, and Yearian and Glandorf each carded a 41-39-80 to share seventh place. O’Neil added a solid round of 43-41-84.

Joining in on the Raiders’ district title were freshman Cooper Bott and sophomore Robbie Allison. Bott shot 45-41-86 and Allison 50-46- 96.

Washington’s Roman Roth was district medalist with an even par 37-35-72. Runner-up, with a 77, was Oskaloosa’s Johnathon Terpstrsa.

Schaefer said his players “managed the course well and fought for every stroke. Shooting under 330 at Bos Landen is a great team score.”

Klinger, Schaefer noted, is starting to hit his stride; Yearian, he pointed out, has played well all year showing great maturity at districts, and Glandorf has really come on as of late.

“I’m so proud of all these guys and playing in the state tournament is a great send off to our two seniors, Zach and Trey,” Schaefer said.

This will be Williamsburg’s 10th trip to state in the last 13 years, all under Schaefer who has been the Raiders’ head coach since 2003 and is closing in on a milestone.

“There are some really good teams at state and we’re excited to be going there to compete,” Schaefer said. “Hopefully we can put up two good scores.”

Believing in divine intervention, coach Schaefer said his son, Tate, who died two years ago of a rare brain cancer and would have been a freshman on this year’s team, helped them get to state.

“Tate should be here with this crew,” coach said. “For sure he had a part in this.”