Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Carson Werning hits a chip shot for Fort Dodge on Tuesday at the Fort Dodge Country Club during the Joselyn Invitational. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net
The Fort Dodge boys golf team may not feel like they’re making enough progress.
First-year head coach Nick Vinson would beg to differ.
The Dodgers placed 12th in their 16-team Joselyn Invitational on Tuesday at the Fort Dodge Country Club. That may not seem overly impressive on the surface, but the stroke improvement in the last two weeks and the overall talent in the field tells a different story.
“I thought we had a relatively solid day,” Vinson said. “We’re taking the steps forward we need to be at this stage in the season. Two weeks ago (when FDSH hosted the Iowa Alliance Conference meet at the FDCC), we shot almost 30 strokes higher than (yesterday).
“I realize 12th doesn’t sound like anything special at first glance, but there were probably six or seven state tournament-caliber teams in this field. When you factor in that and our overall improvement (score-wise), I think we can walk away feeling good about our performance.”
Senior Riley Travis carded a 40-40-80 to pace the Dodgers, who shot 345 as a squad. Travis recorded 10 pars and a birdie, but also had three double bogeys.
“Riley was struggling a little with his irons,” Vinson said. “In this sport, though, sometimes you have to grind your way through a round. He did that. He could’ve let some of the rougher holes get the best of him, but he was able to move on and post a respectable score.”
Senior Nathan Beekman (46-41–87), senior Carson Werning (44-44–88) and junior Evan Pratt (42-48–90) had the other counting rounds for FDSH. Freshman Grant Hepp contributed a 47-45–92.
“It was a nice day, but we dealt with wind for the first time and it was coming from a different direction (northwest) than what the kids are used to seeing,” Vinson said. “We’re heading in the right direction, but I know everyone left some strokes out there and had some frustrating moments. So I feel like that’s a good sign — that we’re able to post better scores, while also seeing things we can still clean up to (go lower).”
Waukee’s Jack Myszewski was the meet medalist with a three-under par 68. Cooper Sebastian of Urbandale (70) followed, with Colby Carlson of Waukee Northwest (72) and Waukee Centennial’s Lawson Hachmeister (72) next in line.
Northwest was the team champion with a 296. Waukee High (299), Indianola (301) and Centennial (303) were right behind.
The Dodgers’ annual tournament is named after the Joselyn family, a long-time staple in the Fort Dodge community. Phil Joselyn won the individual state title in 1955, and his son, Tim, did the same in 1981.
Phil — like Tim, also a former Iowa Hawkeye golfer — is in the FDSH Hall of Fame. He won the Fort Dodge Amateur in 1960, and was a city tournament winner while qualifying for the championship flight in 19 consecutive years — a local record.
Marion Joselyn, Phil’s father, was also a state amateur fixture in the sport.
The Dodgers head to Mason City on Thursday for a triangular with the Mohawks and Des Moines East at 3:30 pm
FDSH JOSELYN INVITATIONAL
(Tuesday’s results, at the FDCC)
Team Standings — 1. Waukee Northwest 296; 2. Waukee 299; 3. Indianola 301; 4. Ankeny Centennial 303; 5. Ankeny 309; 6. Urbandale 318; 7. Norwalk and Sioux City Heelan 319; 9. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 325; 10. Ames 327; 11. Le Mars 333; 12. Fort Dodge 345; 13. Sioux City East 346; 14. Sioux City North 350; 15. Mason City 360; 16. Des Moines Lincoln 397.
Individual Leaders — 1. Jack Myszewski, Waukee, 68; 2. Cooper Sebastian, Urbandale, 70; 3. Colby Carlson, Waukee Northwest, 72; 4. Lawson Hachmeister, Centennial, 72; 5. William Nelson, Indianola, 73; 6. Reimick Elfers, Waukee Northwest, 73; 7. Blake Cronin, Waukee Northwest, 74; 8. Tanner Dinnebier, Waukee, 75; 9. Carter Ginger, Sioux City East, 75; 10. Evan Hodapp, Ankeny, 75; 11. Preston Bily, Indianola, 75; 12. Graham Hilton, Indianola, 75.
Fort Dodge—Riley Travis, 40-40–80; Nathan Beekman, 46-41–87; Carson Werning, 44-44–88; Evan Pratt, 42-48–90; Grant Hepp, 47-45–92; Dalton Rosalez, 49-60–109.
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