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The 2008 NU High Golf Team made history with the school's first state championship. The NU team made its 9th appearance in
the state meet, and the 7th in the last 11 years. Led by State Medalist runner-up Ben Peterson and all-stater Jalen Bergman,
the Panthers, who trailed first day leader East Buchanon by 13 strokes, came roaring back on the second day shooting the best
score of any of the 9 teams at the tournament, to narrowly edge second place Newell-Fonda and third place Mason City Newman
by a single stroke. "What a fabulous effort by all of our golfers," said Coach Lee Weber. "There are so many
stories, I can't tell them all, but I have to start with Ben's amazing second day round. There were only two golfers out of
the field of 64 able to shoot below 80 on the tough Spring Valley golf course, with winds howling between 20 and 35 mph throughout
the day. One of those two scores was Ben's. Had he shot 78 or 79, he still would have had one of the outstanding rounds of
the tournament, but he somehow overcame a rocky start, with bogies on the very first two holes, to shoot an amazing 4-over
par 76. On the final hole he had a bad stroke of luck as the wind actually moved his ball two or three feet away from the
hole after he had marked and replaced it. Ben understood the rules, and knew he simply must putt out from his new location.
Had he replaced the ball to its original spot, he would have been penalized one stroke, and had he putted from that wrong
place, he would have added another two stroke penalty. Knowing the rules and applying them correctly saved our whole team.
"It's a great lesson for our younger players.
Sophomore Jalen Bergman also played outstanding golf. The grandson of Jerry Duea who started the NU Golf program 40 years
ago, Bergman shot 84 and 83 on consecutive days to finish 8th individually overall. Junior Thomas Creeden and Sophomore Emmett
Fritz contributed the other counting scores both days to ensure the victory. "Thomas played very consistently for us
all year, and Emmett was our most improved player over a year ago. Even our 5th and 6th players were strong," noted Weber.
"Had our team shot one stroke higher and we had been tied with Newell-Fonda and Mason City Newman, we would have won
the state title on a tie breaker using 9th grader Joe Weber's 5th score." Joe's scores were the best 5th scores on the
board both days. NU High would have still finished in the top three at state had Weber's score been used as the 4th counting
score either or both days. Teammate Andrew Stone, another 9th grader, and NU's 6th man, bested all but two of the 6th scores
on both days. "Although losing Ben Peterson will be a severe blow, the future still looks pretty bright." Weber
commented. "State tournament experience has no substitute, and we now have three players returning with two year's experience
in the event, and two more with a year's experience. We also have a good nucleus of JV players returning including Kendall
Jackson, Keith Hansen, Jimmy McClain, Alex Quinones, and Alec Calhoun." Only Mason City Newman returns as much talent,
and, of course, Newman plays in the same tough district as NU. It's never easy in our district," noted Weber, "but
we'll worry about that next spring. Right now we are still celebrating."
Graduating senior Peterson ends his sterling career as the career leader in NU Golf history in top-ten finishes in major
tournaments with 22. He finished first or second 7 different times, which is tied for second with two other players behind
Blake Hibben. As a special note, Ben became one of only a handful of Iowa athletes to claim two state team championships in
the same year, as he was a 3-point shooting specialist for the boys basketball team, as well.
Congratulations to all the members of the NU High Panther Golf Team.
2008 NUHS Golf Schedule
2008 Statistics
NUHS All Time Golf Records
Golf Manual for Players and Parents
United States Golf Association Home Page
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