Despite much windier conditions and even a few drops of rain, the Pella High boys golf team managed to shave eight strokes off of their first round score to claim fifth place Saturday at the Class 3A Boys State Golf Meet.  The Little Dutch finished with a 327 for a combined score of 662 – just three strokes back of fourth-place Harlan.  Decorah ran away with the meet, scoring a combined 616, which was an astounding 34 strokes in front of second place.  

“At the beginning of the year, if you would have said, ‘hey, will you take fifth place in the state,’ I’d have jumped up and down and taken it in a second.  What a blessing to be able to coach young men like this.  They did great all year,” said coach Bob Fessler.  

“Fifty-eight and ten was our record on the year, which is outstanding.  A fifth-place finish, three shots out of fourth place; I couldn’t be more proud of our young men.  They performed well, and left our young kids hungry to get back here and experience this year after year, so it’s a win all the way around.  I’m very excited for our school and for our team.”

Individually, Pella’s Lucas Boyd made a valiant charge for the meet’s lowest score, finishing with a second-round 73 for a two-day total of 150.  Centerville freshman Alex Moorman took individual medalist honors with a 147.  

It was the final meet for Boyd, along with fellow senior Payne Pleima, but the remaining four varsity players for the Little Dutch are all freshmen and sophomores, making for a bright future for Pella High boys golf.  

L. Boyd +6 thru 18 holes (77) — Rnd 2 +2 thru 18 holes (73) = 150
C. Elliott +15 thru 18 holes (86) — Rnd 2 +10 thru 18 holes (81) = 167
P. Pleima +21 thru 18 holes (92) — Rnd 2 +12 thru 18 holes (83) = 175
C. Bradley +14 thru 18 holes (85) — Rnd 2 +19 thru 18 holes (90) = 175
S. Rennich +16 thru 18 holes (87) — Rnd 2 +22 thru 18 holes (93) = 180
J. Dorman +27 thru 18 holes (98) — Rnd 2 +30 thru 18 holes (101) = 199