The Fairfield Trojans boys golf team punched their ticket to the Class 3A District Meet on Wednesday, May 13th, finishing third at the sectional hosted at Fairfield Golf and Country Club — the course the Trojans call home. Playing on familiar turf on an 18-hole, par-70 layout, Fairfield delivered one of its stronger performances of the season, holding the lead for much of the front nine before ultimately securing the third and final team qualifying spot, now just one meet away from qualifying for the state tournament.
Team Results
Pella ran away with the sectional title at 320, followed by Washington at 332. Fairfield finished third at 336, securing the final team qualifying spot ahead of West Liberty at 344, Mount Pleasant at 356, Keokuk at 366, Fort Madison at 384, and Centerville at 399.
The Trojans’ front-nine performance was a particular highlight. Fairfield held the lead for most of the early portion of the round — a notable development for a team that head coach Mick Flattery said has struggled with slow starts all season. The back nine tightened the field, but Fairfield held on when it mattered most.
Individual Results
Pella’s Kyler Besick claimed individual medalist honors with a round of 76, followed by Washington’s Rajan Roth at 77, Pella’s Landon Reynolds at 78, and Washington’s Drew Conrad at 78. The top four finishers each earned medals.
For Fairfield, senior Drew Myers led the way with a fifth-place finish and a round of 79 — a personal best and his first career sub-80 score, achieved in his final competitive round at his home course. Had Fairfield not advanced as a team, Myers would have qualified for districts as an individual. Luke Thornton followed with an 82, recording three birdies on the day. Archer Kreuter added an 85 with one birdie, Xavier Kessel shot a 90 with one birdie, Rowan Kness carded a 100 with one birdie, and Dain Burkhart rounded out the Fairfield scorecard with a 102.
Mount Pleasant’s Brody Engle finished sixth overall at 81, and West Liberty’s Ryan Laughlin finished ninth at 83. As the top two individuals not on qualifying teams, Engle and Laughlin both advance to the district meet.
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Flattery had high praise for how his team responded to the moment, particularly given the home course advantage and the way the lineup came together on the day.
“It was a great first round for the guys,” Flattery said. “They were in first place for quite some time, but we all know it takes 18 holes, not nine, in sectional play. These guys have been such slow starters all year. They got out of the gates fast today, and held on — because we knew West Liberty would be, on paper, better than us statistically speaking. But our course, our guys — this was set up like our club championship. So they did really well on our course, and we had guys that were throwing down birdies that maybe haven’t done it before, or on different holes, so that was good.”
Flattery singled out Myers as the day’s standout performer. “Drew Myers — good for him. He led us today. He would have also advanced if our team didn’t. Great day for the Trojans.”
Myers was equally proud of his team’s collective effort. “Very pleased with how the team did today,” he said. “We are moving on to districts and that was the goal. So I’m very proud of how we played and our confidence when we came to Fairfield.”
When asked what it felt like to shoot a personal best in his final competitive round at home, Myers was grateful but quick to share the credit. “Feels awesome. That’s a memory that I’ll always keep,” he said. “But really I just want to give credit to my dad, my coach, my teammates for just really helping me with my swing and putting. Just everything around.”
Preparing for Districts
Flattery acknowledged that the challenge ahead at Bos Landen in Pella will be significantly different from the familiar surroundings of Fairfield Golf and Country Club, but said the team is ready to put in the work.
“It won’t be easy at Bos Landen, but hey, this is what they call the icing on the cake part now,” he said. “We’ll go up there and practice, and we’ll try to set our course management up as best we can — whether it be shots downhill, uphill, side hill, across water, things like that, to the best of our ability.”
What’s Next
The Class 3A District Meet is scheduled for Monday, May 18th at 10:00 a.m. at Bos Landen Golf Club in Pella, with the top finishers earning a trip to the state tournament in what will be a tough test for Fairfield.
From the Fairfield sectional, Pella, Washington, and Fairfield advance as teams, joined by individuals Brody Engle of Mount Pleasant and Ryan Laughlin of West Liberty. From the Oskaloosa sectional, North Polk (301), Ballard (304), and Newton (318) qualified as teams, with individuals Levi Jack of Grinnell (76) and Grayson Gingerich of Mid-Prairie (76) also advancing.
