All season long, the Washington Demon boys’ golf team has had three goals in mind. The first was accomplished when they set a school record for lowest team score at the Southeast Conference Tournament. The second was fulfilled last week when Washington won a Class 3A district championship at Willliamsburg.
Now, the Demons take aim at their ultimate goal: a state title. Washington plays in the 3A state tournament today and tomorrow at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.
It’s the second trip in three years to state for the Demons, who only missed out on a trip to Ames last season by a few strokes at districts but are living up to their number-two ranking in the state according to the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association.
Washington has been dominant this spring, winning 10 of the 13 events they’ve played in and adding a district crown last week to the sectional and conference titles they’d already won.
At the forefront for the Demons has been Roman Roth, who is chasing a piece of Iowa golf history. The defending individual Class 3A champion is looking to become the eighth golfer in Iowa High School Athletic Association history to win back-to-back state titles, and just the 11th to win multiple state titles at any point in their career.
Roth has racked up seven victories in his senior season, including a sectional title two weeks ago at Mount Pleasant, while averaging an 18-hole score of just over 70-and-a-half strokes. No one at the 2023 state championships had more birdies than the nine Roth earned, and he was the only player in the field with multiple eagles.
Rajan Roth will also be hunting a state medal after a brilliant season where he has won twice, including shooting a three-under-par 68 to claim the district title last week.
Both Roth and fellow sophomore Drew Conrad have average scores in 18-hole events of 77 or lower, while sophomore Carson Brown and seniors Luke Beenblossom and Teague Mayer have all averaged scores of 88 or better.
Washington’s third trip to state since 2018 will be the one they hope produces their first team championship, with their best finish being second place in 2011. The Demons were 10th as a team back in their last trip to Ames in 2022.
Brown will be first to tee off for Washington at just before 11:30 this morning, with Beenblossom then up next. Mayer, Conrad, Rajan and Roman Roth will follow in that order as the Demons play 18 holes today and another 18 tomorrow.
Be listening for updates from this year’s Class 3A state golf tournament today and tomorrow on KCII and check the results page on KCIIradio.com.