Grady Oleson competes in the third round of the Cedar Rapids Men’s City Amateur on Sunday at the Ellis Golf Course in Cedar Rapids. Oleson, a senior at Marion, won the tournament.
Michael Baniewicz/The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS – Grady Oleson is not sure why he took up the game of golf.
But he is sure glad he did.
The Marion High School rising senior provided a glimpse of what should be a terrific final season of high school golf by winning the Cedar Rapids Men’s City Amateur golf tournament Sunday at Ellis Golf Course.
“It’s big,” Oleson said. “It’s really big for the confidence. I beat a lot of guys who played college golf and have a lot more experience than I do. Now I know I can hang with anybody.”
The tournament was limited to just two rounds after Friday’s action was postponed due to weather. Oleson finished at 7-under par, one stroke better than
Martin Golobic reacts to his putt during the third round of the Cedar Rapids Men’s City Amateur on Sunday at the Ellis Golf Course in Cedar Rapids. Golobic finished runner-up.
Michael Baniewicz/The Gazette
Martin Golobic, who has finished at least sixth in each of the last seven years.
“I play here a lot, just by myself,” Oleson said. “I hit the ball so well off the tee. I wasn’t missing many fairways. Made a lot of putts day one, too. That really helped.”
It is unclear whether Oleson, 17, is the youngest winner in the history of the Cedar Rapids Men’s City Am, but it would be appropriate given the fact that Cedar Rapids Xavier rising junior Hayley Morris, 16, became the youngest winner of the Cedar Rapids Women’s City Am just three weeks ago.
What is clear, however, is the future of the game is strong. Between Oleson and Cedar Rapids Xavier rising senior Logan Otting (-4), two of the top-three finishers Sunday are current high school players.
“I have known Logan for a while,” Oleson said. “We have played a lot of of these summer tournaments together. I think it helped both of us, honestly, not playing with the older guys and we were used to playing with each other, too.”
At hole No. 16, Oleson turned a one-shot lead into three with a birdie plus a bogey from Golobic. That cushion proved vital when Golobic birdied the final two holes, setting up a par putt for Oleson to win the tournament.
“I got a good line from the ball going by,” Oleson said. “I got a good line from Martin, who made his birdie putt. I trusted it. Played it just outside right and sat on the cup for par.”
Oleson did not begin playing regularly until the summer of 2023. His breakthrough arrived last May when he finished third at the Class 3A state meet. That terrific performance now has Oleson eyeing opportunities to take his game to the collegiate level — his dream school is the University of Iowa — after graduation. As for his final season of high school golf, one goal stands above the others.
“Win state,” Oleson said. “Make a run, at least.”
Also at Ellis, Tim Ingwersen (+3) won the Cedar Rapids Men’s Senior Am for the first time since 2017 by one stroke over Darin Luneckas.
The Iowa City Men’s City Am was pushed to next weekend due to weather.