Jirovsky, Spartans seal the deal for state golf title
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AMES -- Unexpected? Not even a little bit. Unprecedented? Absolutely.
Grundy Center freshman Judd Jirovsky finished off his assault of the record books in leading the Spartans to their fourth boys' state golf team title on Tuesday at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames.
Jirovsky shot a 3-under-par 68 in the second round to claim Grundy Center's third individual title ever with a 63-68--131, setting the all-time scoring record for all classes while helping the Spartans secure the lead they built on the first day in Class 2A play.
"I was more focused I would say on the team," Jirovsky said. "Our goal all year long was to go to state as a team and even after the first day I was more focused on the team winning. We were fortunate enough to be up 10 strokes and we were able to go low again."
Grundy Center carried a 10-shot advantage into Tuesday's final 18 holes and won the second day as well, rounding out the school's first state championship since 2018 with a 296-301--597 total. Dyersville Beckman was second (611) and North Iowa Cedar League foe Hudson finished third (618).
Jirovsky's opening-day blistering of Coldwater set the tone for the Spartans' charge to another crown according to Ben Wegmann, the lone senior on the squad.
"It was very intersting because Judd shot an insanely low round so we were trying to keep him under control because we still had day two to play even though he shot like the lowest round ever," Wegmann said. "Like Kobe said, 'Job's not finished.'
"We had a pretty special two days. Going into the second day, we just wanted to win the day."
The Spartans accomplished that, starting at the top with Jirovsky's 131. Sophomore Preston Martens dropped five strokes and tied for 17th overall with his 79-75--154, freshman Eli Wegmann carded a 77-80--157, and junior Tate Jirovsky finished in with an 85-78--163. Ben Wegmann closed his career with a 77-87--164, and junior Sully Dirks shot 85-81--166.
Judd joins elite company in the Grundy Center annals, following the state medalist footsteps of Ryan Kiewiet in 2010 and Bobby Ayers in 2005. The Spartans were runners-up when Kiewiet won the title in 2010 but were team champions when Ayers claimed the crown in 2005.
Grundy Center was the state runner-up two years ago when Ashton Martens claimed the individual silver, and last year's squad struggled to seventh out of eight teams at state -- also played at Coldwater.
Tuesday's outcome was never in doubt.
"It feels really good to know that all the season's work and all the years growing up playing golf paid off," Judd said. "I didn't get off the start I wanted to today but I was just able to get myself more confidence when I heard that everyone else was playing well."
Judd was 2-over after the first four holes on Tuesday but managed to level off with a birdie at the par-5 seventh. He made the turn at 1-over and then breezed through the back nine with four birdies the final five holes, sinking a 20-foot finisher for birdie in front of a Grundy Center gallery at the 18th green.
"I knew things were going well overall, so that was nice to know and it helped me keep my cool," Judd said. "I was able to embrace the last few shots of my freshman year. You just have to take some breaths, take some time to analyze and not hit a shot you're not ready for mentally."
Judd mishit his driver on the 18th tee but still found the fairway. With 200 yards into the green he still reached in regulation and calmly sunk his final putt.
"I knew it was going in so I was confident, and to hear the roar from the community and my coaches and teammates was great," he said.
Defending 2A champion Axton Miller of OABCIG finished second, closing with another dandy of a round on Tuesday to shoot 77-65--142. Brandon Tournier of Oelwein was third with 75-68--143, East Marshall freshman Cody Weaver was fifth at 75-70--145, and Hudson senior Caleb Ham was sixth at 75-73--148.
The NICL was well represented, that's for certain.
"Cody beat Judd at sectionals and districts, but Judd won conference and state," noted East Marshall head coach Jordan Augspurger. "Judd's score of 8-under on day one actually helped Cody get back to playing his game on day two. He had a little bit more fun today -- that was one thing we tried to go for was just to relax and have fun and see what happens at the end of the day."
Weaver was in a 10-way tie for fourth place after Monday's opening round and he finished alone in fifth place even though he shaved five strokes off his score with Tuesday's 1-under 70.
"He was a little more consistent with all his shots today," Augspurger said. "He was just a little more relaxed.
"At the beginning his goal was to place in the top-10 at the state meet and he got fifth so it was good for him to achieve some of his goals. He's played Iowa Junior PGA since he was seven so he's been around the game and done really well and competed, so he's really experienced for only being a freshman."
Same goes for Judd Jirovsky, obviously.
"The conference is loaded," Augspurger said. "It was well represented at state in individuals and team honors. A couple more NICL teams would have made it but they were just in the wrong districts."