Cardinals open golf season with plethora of career-best scores

DES MOINES — The Newton boys golf team opened its season with a score that would have been last year’s best by 11 shots.

But a loaded field pushed the Cardinals all the way down to fifth in the nine-team field at the Saydel Eagles Boys Golf Invitational on Friday.

Newton got career-best scores from three of its six golfers and two others made their varsity debuts as the Cardinals shot 310 at the par 71 Woodland Hills Golf Course.

“I’m happy with how we played today,” Newton head boys golf coach Pat Riley said. “I don’t want to read into the team score too closely as many of the holes were shortened so everybody’s scores were lower than they normally would have been.

“I’m excited about the potential of this team. I have a lot of kids who will be fighting for a varsity spot every week. This competition will only make us better.”

Newton’s best 18-hole score last year was 321. The Cardinals averaged a 336 during the 2024 spring season.

Newcomer Mason Smith’s varsity debut featured a 31 on the front nine. He led the Cardinals with a 3-over-par 74.

Jackson Price was next with a 75 as he had fairly even nine-hole splits at 37 and 38.

Peyton Rozendaal finished with a career-best 79 and Lincoln Peterson was the final counting scorer with a career-best 82. Ethan Pageler’s non-counting score of 84 also was a career low and Carter Forst shot an 86 in his varsity debut.

Peterson’s score was a career best by six shots and Pageler posted a four-shot career low.

“Mason Smith had a wonderful day and was our team medalist,” Riley said. “He shot his personal best and did so in style. His 31 on the front was really awesome to see. I know this will only strengthen his belief in himself.

“Jackson Price also had a good day, but he just didn’t make as many putts as he normally does and got a lot of bad breaks. Peyton Rozendaal said he was going to shoot in the 70s, and he did. That was great to see.”

Pella Christian won the tournament with a school record 283. All six of its golfers shot 80 or under.

Pella Christian’s Eliot Menninga and Deacon Branderhorst finished 1-2 individually and both posted a school record 67.

Led by Ryan Lynch’s career-best 69, Gilbert finished second with a 293. The Tigers also had six scores at 80 or under.

Earlham finished third with a school record 303 and Pella (305) was just behind in fourth. The Dutch got an eight-shot career best score from KJ Besick, who carded a 68.

Newton edged Oskaloosa (311) for fifth and the rest of the field featured Greene County (336), West Marshall (341) and host Saydel (371).