The Knoxville and Pella golf teams navigated a competitive district to qualify for the 2022 Class 3A state golf meet Monday. The Panthers edged the Dutch by one stroke to win the district championship, with the top three advancing to state, as Newton also qualified. All three teams were tied at 160 strokes each after nine-holes of scoring, and the Panthers finished at 321, Pella at 322, and Newton at 327.

Evan Smith finished as meet runner up for Knoxville with a 73, and says he was excited to edge the Dutch and get the group back to the state meet after qualifying in 2021.

“It’s huge — Pella was definitely a team that we’ve played with all year and to beat them at their own course was awesome,” he says. “It’s definitely been a battle this year with weather, so it was nice to shoot a score, we’ve improved greatly from the beginning of the year.”

Pella’s Will Simpson won the event as an individual with a 2-under 70, a bogey free round, and he’s excited to bring the rest of his team with him as they compete among Iowa’s best.

“Going up last year solo, it really stunk, and I’m really glad I get the whole team up there this year,” Simpson says.

The 2022 Class 3A State Golf Meet will be played Monday, May 23rd and Tuesday, May 24th at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames. Click here to see the full list of qualifiers.

Hear interviews from both Knoxville and Pella golfers during this week’s KNIA/KRLS Radio Sports Page, which airs every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m. on both KNIA and KRLS.

Knoxville’s scores (321):
Evan Smith – 73
Beau Leisure – 81
Kail Arkema – 83
Carson Uitermarkt – 84

Pella’s scores (322)
Will Simpson – 70
Ayden Gordon – 81
Cade McGinley – 85
AJ Hoekstra – 86