ANKENY, Iowa – The final approach shots of the 2024 IHSAA Fall Golf State Championships presented by Iowa Farm Bureau had a picturesque backdrop Tuesday, with hundreds of fans and players cheering from the clubhouse hill at Briarwood Golf Club as the sun set.
Cedar Falls senior Anthony Galvin emerged from the crowd at No. 9 as the individual champion, conquering the second hole of a playoff with Johnston junior Andrew Johannsen and capping an exceptional Class 4A season in style.
Galvin hit a pair of fours for par in the playoff, with a tying put on No. 18 and a winning one on No. 9 against a game Johannsen to close the tournament.
“Everything went well on the back nine,” Galvin said. “I’ve played with Andrew a couple times this year and he’s a really good player. I just went into the playoff with no expectations and wanted to play it like I had been all year. I just hit really good iron shots off the tee and put myself in good positions.
“My coach (Jacob Bermel) and I were talking about it and I could layup a little short, but why not just go for it? It’s a playoff for a reason.”
As Galvin and Johannsen both shot 144 over 36 holes to pace a competitive individual leaderboard – the top 20 golfers finished with 10 strokes – Johnston led a crowded team race to win its second championship.
The Dragons shot 298 on a cloudy and breezy Day 1, then 309 on a fast but sunny Day 2 to finish as team champions at 607. Johannsen’s 69 on Day 1 had Johnston on top of both leaderboards, and teammates Lucas Laffoon (150), Henry Baker (153), Kolby Stanton (162), Garrett Cramer (165), plus split No. 6 players Nicholas Parenza and Jaden Young (169) helped the 2022 champs lift the title again.
The next three trophy-winners were separated by just one stroke each: Wahlert Catholic (612), Valley (613), and Pleasant Valley (614).
“We had a game plan in place and we executed it at a pretty high degree of success, which is awesome for these guys,” Johnston head coach Carson Hattel said. “There is such great golf in the state right now.”
In a fall punctuated by remarkably low scores statewide, the eight individual medal winners came from six different schools. Higher scores on Day 2 kept spectators guessing about results until the final groups completed scorecards with Iowa PGA staff at the clubhouse.
Galvin and Johannsen then trekked back out to No. 18 tee off the first playoff for the 4A title since 2017 in Marshalltown. Galvin became the second ever medalist from Cedar Falls, following Curt Berggren in 1989, which was also won in a playoff.
The IHSAA extends its thanks to Briarwood Golf Club and Iowa PGA for their support and work at the 2024 Fall Golf State Championships!
2024 FALL GOLF LEADERBOARDS
TEAM SCORING
1 | Johnston | 607 |
2 | Wahlert Catholic | 612 |
3 | Valley, W.D.M. | 613 |
4 | Pleasant Valley | 614 |
5 | Cedar Falls | 617 |
6 | North Scott | 623 |
6 | Waukee | 623 |
8 | Ankeny | 626 |
9 | Ankeny Centennial | 629 |
10 | Dowling Catholic | 644 |
11 | Indianola | 651 |
12 | Prairie, Cedar Rapids | 653 |
INDIVIDUAL MEDALS
1 | Anthony Galvin^ | Cedar Falls | 70-74—144 |
2 | Andrew Johannsen | Johnston | 69-75—144 |
3 | Ty Potter | Southeast Polk | 73-73—146 |
4 | Aidan McGreen | Valley, W.D.M. | 74-74—148 |
5 | Henry Their | Wahlert Catholic | 79-70—149 |
6 | Lucas Laffoon* | Johnston | 75-75—150 |
7 | Tyler Santi | Indianola | 75-75—150 |
8 | CT Norris* | Johnston | 72-79—151 |
Notes:
- ^ – medalist playoff
- * – ties separated by cardback
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