Grundy Center boys dig deep, earn return trip to state golf tourney

OSKALOOSA – Despite what longtime Grundy Center boys’ golf coach Dennis Dirks describes as a dismal front nine on a tough Oskaloosa course, a late round surge landed the Spartan boys in the runner-up spot at the Class 1A district meet Thursday. The second place finish meant the realization of the number one goal for this year’s Spartan team - returning to the state meet after a second place finish in last year’s state championship. The Spartans finished the day with a team score of 341, 10 strokes behind district champ New London. Gladbrook-Reinbeck went fourth with a team score of 358.
 “There are teams that just know how to find a way, the ability to dig a little deeper,” Coach Dirks said. “This year, I’m fortunate enough to have one of those teams.”
Dirks wasn’t surprised with Thursday’s outcome, as the Spartans have been finding a way all season.
“In my mind, this has been a group of over-achievers the entire spring,” he said. “It’s been a shared success story with everyone contributing towards their many accomplishments. We have a solid group of senior leaders in Tanner Pelzer, Nick Saak, and Sam Thompson. They are complemented by three very talented underclassmen in Austin Burroughs, Jesper Holke-Farnam, and Jake Bangasser.”
“It was a goal that we had at the very beginning of the year and it is a great thrill to be returning there (to state) as a senior,” Tanner Pelzer said.
 
For more of this story see the May 28 Grundy Register.