The Knoxville Boys Golf Squad finished runner-up at the class 3A State Meet at the Veenker Memorial Course in Ames on Tuesday. The Panthers came into the second day of competition ten shots back of MOC Floyd Valley and the Dutch eventually won 14 shots. Each Knoxville player equaled or shot better than their day one score led by Kail Arkema’s two day total of 156 which was good enough to earn him an All-State nod in 7th place overall. Evan Smith and Carson Uitermarkt told KNIA/KRLS Sports they were able to battle through the tough course to make runner-up.

Carson: “We talked last night, ten shots is not that bad, and we wanted that 2nd place trophy.”
Evan: A win would have been amazing but we’re not going to complain about 2nd place and we beat some phenomenal teams, and getting 2nd place makes us feel pretty good.”

Head Coach Barry Smith told KNIA/KRLS Sports the resiliency the guys showed not only in this meet but all year was something he was proud of.

Smith: “These boys deserve it, they worked really hard, they battled, I’m just so proud of them.”

Evan Smith finished with a 157 tied for 8th, Uitermarkt finished with a 164 tied for 19th, Beau Leisure fired a two day total of 166 and tied for 25th, Brady Roozeboom scored a 182 and tied for 57th, and Noah Keefer had a 190 and placed 66th. Knoxville will lose two seniors from the team Beau Leisure and Arkema, who is a Twin Cedars Student and played with Knoxville in a sharing agreement.