Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Spring is right around the corner and that means golf season has arrived.

Practice began earlier this month with the first day of competition for Class 1A, 2A and 3A teams coming this week.

All four Your Prep Sports area teams competing in spring golf get into the action this week and once again the area features some of the best teams in the state.

Solon is coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Class 3A while West Branch is seeking a fourth consecutive top-three finish in Class 2A.

Before the season really gets rolling here is a look at some area golfers to keep an eye on this season leading up to the state meets which are scheduled for May 22-23.

Jack McCarty

Junior, Solon

McCarty has been one of the stalwarts in a Solon lineup that has produced back-to-back Class 3A runner-up finishes.

As a freshman in 2021 McCarty fired a 153 to place sixth at the state meet and finished in a tie for 20^th at the state meet a year ago with a two-day total of 168.

McCarty ranked second on the team with an 18-hole average of 78 last season and his combined adjusted average of 39.38 was 11^th best in Class 3A.

Mikey Takacs

Senior, Regina

Already a two-time state qualifier Takacs is coming off a breakthrough junior season in which he emerged as one of the top golfers in Class 2A.

Takacs finished 18^th at the state meet as a sophomore in 2021 but took his game to another level last season leading Regina with an 18-hole average of 78 and a 38.64 combined adjusted average that ranked second in 2A.

Takacs finished sixth at the River Valley Conference meet and third at the 2A district meet last season before shooting a two-day total of 149 to finish fifth at the Class 2A state meet.

Will Bridges

Senior, West Branch

One of the pillars of an impressive three-year run for the West Branch golf program Bridges will look to put his stamp on what has already been a strong career with a stellar senior season.

Bridges notched his second consecutive top-15 finish at the 2A state meet last season, finishing 13^th with a two-day total of 153 to help West Branch to a third-place team finish.

As a sophomore in 2021 Bridges finished sixth at state to help the Bears to the team title.

Bridges was third at the River Valley Conference meet and fourth at the 2A district meet last season.

His 18-hole average of 79 was a team-best last season while his combined adjusted average of 41.89 was third best on the team.

Zach McCarty

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

A first-team all-WAMAC honoree a year ago McCarty is looking for a career breakthrough this season following a strong junior campaign.

McCarty finished 10^th at the WAMAC meet last season before narrowly missing a trip to the state meet.

Last season McCarty led Clear Creek Amana with an 18-hole average of 79 which ranked 21^st in 3A and his combined adjusted average of 40.13 was a team-best and 18^th in 3A.

Isaiah Zoske

Sophomore, Solon

An immediate contributor in the Spartan lineup last season Zoske has quickly established himself as a bona-fide state title contender in Class 3A.

Zoske capped an impressive freshman season by shooting a 75 and winning a playoff to earn medalist honors at the Class 3A district meet before finishing 10^th overall with a two-day total of 161 at the Class 3A state meet.

In his first season of varsity action Zoske ranked third on the team in both 18-hole average (78.43) and combined adjusted average (39.85).

Mac McCarty

Senior, Solon

Another veteran in the Solon lineup McCarty returns for his senior season with his sights set on leading the Spartans back to the state meet.

McCarty has posted top-30 individual finishes at the 3A state meet each of the past two seasons finishing 15^th as a sophomore in 2021 before shooting a two-day total of 172 last season to finish 26^th.

Last season McCarty ranked fourth on the team in both 18-hole average (80.29) and combined adjusted average (41.06) and finished 13^th at the district meet.

Cameron Gingerich

Junior, West Branch

A two-year squad member Gingerich will look to step up this season as West Branch looks to replace four seniors from its third-place squad from a year ago.

Gingerich finished 56^th at the 2A state meet in his state meet debut a year ago after placing

Finished 56^th at the 2A state meet last season after helping the Bears return to the state meet with a title at the district meet.

Gingerich was the fourth West Branch finisher at the district meet with an 85 and will look to build on a strong end to last season this spring.

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