April 23, 2024

Cardinals prepare for Class 4A district golf tournament

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton High’s Cardinals are ready for Monday’s Class 4A district tournament. These six are returners from a year ago for the NHS golf team. They are (left to right) senior Tyler Thongvanh, sophomore Austin Reynolds, junior Jordan Henning, senior Devin Shores, junior Payton Thomas and junior Derek Damman. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Newton High’s Cardinals got a little longer break than they anticipated. The Cardinal golfers were in action last on Sept. 23. They were suppose to play again Thursday in the Ottumwa Invitational tournament, using it as a tune-up for Monday’s Class 4A district tournament.

Weather intervened to move the Ottumwa meet to Friday then it was canceled. So, it’s on to the district tournament for the Cardinals.

“If we go and play golf like we shot at our home meet, we have a good chance at qualifying for the state,” said Pat Riley, NHS head golf coach. “District tournaments are tough and ours is stacked. There’s a lot of good golf teams in Central Iowa.”

Newton joins Ames, Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines North, Des Moines Roosevelt, Fort Dodge, Indianola, Johnston, Marshalltown, Mason City, Urbandale, and West Des Moines Valley in the district tournament. Monday’s district event will be at Waveland Golf Course in Des Moines and hosted by Des Moines Roosevelt High School.

Tee time is 10 a.m. It is a Par 72 course.

“We’ve never competed on this course and I’ve not been on it. The kids played on it last weekend and went up Thursday and played on it. They know what to expect from the course,” Riley said. “There will be a lot of leaves on the ground and I do know it is a hilly course.”

Seniors Devin Shores and Tyler Thongvanh, juniors Derek Damman, Payton Thomas and Jordan Henning and sophomore Austin Reynolds will be playing for Newton Monday. Reynolds and Damman have led the team this season,

Damman and Reynolds each have shot a team-low 74 this season. Reynolds has the best 18-hole average at 78.89 followed by Damman at 79.56. Henning posted a 76 this year and Shores best round was a 78. Shores has an 18-hole average of 85.11 and Thomas sit at 86.89.

Henning has an average of 91.67 and Thongvanh has a 93.89 average for 18 holes. Henning’s best round this season was an 83 and Thongvanh has an 87 in the books.

Contact Sports Editor Jocelyn Sheets at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com.