WATERLOO — Parker Rodgers picked the perfect time to rediscover his groove, and Ballard became a team champion for the first time in 16 years at the Class 3A boys state spring golf meet, which took place May 26-27.
Rodgers defended his individual title with an impressive 5 under par round of 139 over 36 holes. The Nevada junior won by five strokes over Marion’s Grady Oleson and Spirit Lake’s Jaizik Miller, who each carded an even par 144 over the two days of competition.
“I didn’t think it’d feel this good to be honest,” Rodgers said. “Especially to do what I’ve wanted to do for so long. I didn’t know it’d feel as good for that last putt to go in and to walk off the green.”
During the regular season, Rodgers was not having the same success he had a year ago. He did not shoot a 64 or win the Heart of Iowa Conference title as he did in 2025.
He battled a bout with the flu and just did not have the consistency he had a year ago when he shot a 7-under 137 at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls to beat Gilbert’s Ryan Lynch by one stroke for the state title.
But at the 3A sectional meet in Webster City on May 13, he started to hit his stride. He won the meet with a 4-under 68 and followed that up with an even par at the district meet in Atlantic.
Humboldt’s Cade Birdsell beat Rodgers by two strokes and Des Moines Christian’s Max Shisler by one at the district meet, but Rodgers had found his comfort level.
“It was really rocky at the beginning,” Rodgers said. “The last couple of weeks have been really good. I kind of found my swing, found the putter and it all comes down to today and yesterday. As long as you can get here and play good, and that’s exactly what I did this year.”
At the state meet, Rodgers shot a 3-under 69 over the first 18 holes on May 26. He led Miller by two strokes.
On Day 2, he finished with a 2-under 18-hole round of 70.
Rodgers recorded one eagle, eight birdies and 23 pars over the two days. He finished with 32 holes that were par or better, two more than anyone else in the field.
“It feels good to win by more than one,” Rodgers said. “The biggest thing was keeping the ball in play. I hit one ball in a hazard all week, and I backed it up with an eagle on the next hole. Keeping the ball in play and not making any big numbers was the only reason I’m standing here.”
Even though he had been struggling during the year, Rodgers never lost his edge.
“I love this course, I love the way it plays and I know I’m the best player here,” Rodgers said. “Even though when I was shooting an 84 at Bos (Landen in Pella), I was still the most confident human being in that clubhouse.”
Big second day gives Ballard the 3A team title
Ballard won its sixth state team championship and first in 16 years during the 3A meet.
The Bombers finished Day 1 in a three-way tie with North Polk and Knoxville for the lead after each school carded a 309 over the first 18 holes. But on Day 2, Ballard separated itself from the rest of the field.
The Bombers shaved eight strokes off their Day 1 score with a 301 to finish with a 610. That was just enough to hold off MOC-Floyd Valley’s 612 for the title.
“I’m still a little bit in shock,” said Ballard coach Wyatt Weeks. “These boys have worked their butts off all season long, every day of the week. They deserve it. I’m just speechless.”
Sophomore Jamin Colvin paced Ballard by tying for eighth place individually with a 3-over 140 over 36 holes. Jordan Domino also placed in the top 25 individually after carding a 155 to tie for 24th.
But it was the play of three other golfers on Day 2 — Domino, Riley Dingel and Rowan Josephson — who made the difference for the Bombers in the team standings.
Domino tied for 24th individually with a 155 after going from an 82 on Day 1 to a 73 on Day 2. Dingel cut five strokes off his Day 1 score of 81 on Day to tie for 32nd with a 157 and Josephson shaved seven strokes from Day 1 to Day 2 in finishing with a 159, which tied him for 41st overall.
Parker Domino shot a 156 after two 18-hole rounds of 78 to tie for 30th and Alex Weeks tied for 46th with a 160 for the Bombers.
Coach Weeks played for Hall of Fame Ballard golf coach Stan Westenfield between the Bombers’ 2001 team title and their 2007-2010 four-peat in 3A. He was happy to finally be part of a championship team and carry on Ballard’s boys golf legacy with the sixth overall team championship in program history.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” Wyatt Weeks said. “To be a part of something that I missed out on, to be part of something as a coach, and to teach what I’ve learned from my past — absolutely amazing.”
Class 3A Individual medalists (36 holes): 1. Parker Rodgers (Nevada), 69-70-139; 2. (tie) Grady Oelson (Marion), 75-69-144; and Jaizik Miller (Spirit Lake), 71-73-144; 4. Carson Korver (MOC-Floyd Valley), 73-73-146; 5. (tie) Lane Helgeson (Okoboji), 73-74-147; Kyler Besick (Pella), 75-72-147; Dawson Fuelling (Independence), 76-71-147; 8. (tie) Jamin Colvin (Ballard), 72-76-148; Wayne Johnson (Des Moines Christian), 72-76-148; 10. Ryder Laing (Solon), 76-73-149.
Class 3A team scores (36 holes): 1. Ballard, 309-301-610; 2. MOC-Floyd Valley, 310-302-612; 3. North Polk, 309-306-6-15; 4. Atlantic, 310-307-617; 5. Knoxville, 309-309-618; 6. Marion, 318-304-622; 7. Okoboji, 319-304-623; 8. Des Moines Christian, 323-305-628; 9. Pella, 314-315-629; 10. Solon, 312-320-632; 11. Independence, 325-309-634; 12. Spencer, 322-319-641.
Judd Jirovsky, Cody Weaver cruise to 2A and 1A individual titles
Grundy Center’s Judd Jirovsky won the 2A individual boys golf championship and East Marshall’s Cody Weaver was crowned the 1A champion on May 27.
Jirovsky followed up last year’s 2A state runner-up performance at the Gates Park course by winning the 2A title at the South Hills Golf Course in Waterloo. He shot a 5-under 139 on May 26-27 to take the crown by three strokes over Rock Valley’s Trey Swanson, who shot a 2-under 142.
Weaver dominated the 1A competition at Westwood Golf Course in Newton. He shot a 6-under score of 136 to win by six strokes over defending champion Keith Thompson of Hamburg, who finished with a 142.
Columbus Catholic won the 2A boys team title with a 610, beating Rock Valley’s 614 to claim the title. Boyden-Hull was the 1A boys team champion with 613 and South Winneshiek took second with a 622.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa high school boys state golf meet results: Ballard claims 3A crown
Reporting by Joe Randleman, Des Moines Register / Ames Tribune
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