IHS Boys Golf team placed 8th at State B

The Ipswich boys' high school golf team moved up into the Top Eight at number eight during their State B event in Yankton last Monday and Tuesday with a 280 the first day and a 266 the final day. That was a total of 546 strokes.

At Hillcrest Country Club, the boys faced a course with large trees, narrow fairways and fast greens, which resulted in a challenging course for the entire field of golfers, according to IHS coach Matt Pollock.

The boys did their best to manage the course and finished the first day in 9th as a team. Ethan Gilbert shot the lowest round for Ipswich on the first day followed by Luke Peterson, Chet Peterson and Matthew Jaenisch. The weather conditions on the second day were nearly perfect, Pollock said. Chet and Matthew shot well on the second day and finished the tournament with valuable experience for the 2020 golf season. Ethan had a solid performance, but ended his state tournament in 26th place, finishing one shot short out of placing. Luke improved his scoring by 13 strokes from day one by shooting an 81 and finishing tied for 21st, which resulted in Luke earning a medal for placing in the top 25. The boys team finished in 8th place overall, nine strokes back from placing in the top six.

James Valley Christian won it at 490, followed by Platte-Geddes at 509. Deubrook Area was third with 519, followed by Hamlin fourth at 526 and Parker next at 527. Bon Homme and Potter County tied for sixth with their 537's just ahead of the Tigers.

Individually JVC's Austin Boomsma carded a 79-74-153 and Devan Weelborg of Hamlin was next at 80-76-156.

Ipswich was indeed led by Luke Peterson, tying for 21st with his 98-81-175. And Gilbert tied for 26th at 91-87-178. Next was Chet Peterson in a three-way tie for 64th at 95-93-193. Jaenisch completed the effort at 75th (96-102-198).

"The season was filled with many opportunities for Ipswich golfers to succeed and get better," Pollock said. "It was amazing to see them overcome everything that was thrown their way. The 2019 golf season has laid the ground work for an exciting 2020 golf season," he said.

Ipswich's lone girl there was Halie Feldman, who started the tourney seeded 70th overall. The first day of the tournament was filled with some rain and cooler temperatures, but Halie battled through the elements to shoot a 110. On the second day, Halie played her best round of golf for the year according to Pollock, carding a 101. She tied for 44th with two other golfers at 211 (110-101).

Taylee Indahl of Burke was the champion at 83-84-167. She topped Courtni Frank of Deubrook's 81-87-168.

As a team, Burke won its 268-273-541 over runnerup Deubrook's 269-276-545.