The 2025 Post-Dispatch All-Metro spring series continues with boys golf. This includes players from both the Illinois fall season and Missouri spring season.
Read more about boys golf, and other high school sports, at STLhighschoolsports.com.
All-Metro boys golf first team
Harper Ackermann, senior, CBC
Ackermann was among the area’s top players all four years of high school golf, and he capped it off with his best season yet as a senior this spring. In the postseason, he fired a 6-under-par 138 to finish in a tie for fifth at the Class 5 state tournament, which came on the heels of a tie for third at the Class 5 District 2 tourney. He also earned titles in the MCC Tournament, the Bulldog Battle and the Columbia Classic and fashioned runner-up efforts at the Bantle Memorial and the Cape Notre Dame Invitational. Ackermann has signed to play at West Florida.
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Eric Ewing, junior, Chaminade
Ewing enjoyed a second successive strong postseason for the Red Devils, who finished as the Class 5 team runner-up. He posted matching rounds of 69 for a 6-under-par 138 and a tie for fifth place at the Class 5 state tournament, his second consecutive top-10 finish at state. Ewing also finished in a tie for ninth at the Class 5 District 2 tourney. In the regular season, he earned a runner-up finish at the MCC tourney and had a third-place showing at the Laker Invitational.
Ben Gelven, senior, MICDS
Gelven turned it on in the postseason in his final go-around with the Rams. He fired a 2-under-par 69 to win the Class 4 District 2 tournament and then carded a 2-over 144 at the Class 4 state tourney to earn a runner-up finish, just two shots off the pace. It was his second top-10 state finish in three years. Gelven has signed to play at Illinois Wesleyan.
Sam Ottwell, senior, Alton
Ottwell once again was one of the top Metro East golfers last fall, earning Class 3A co-player of the year honors from the Metro East Golf Coaches Association. He captured medalist honors at the Southwestern Conference tournament and also took first place at the Class 3A Collinsville Regional with a career-best round of 65. Ottwell then had a runner-up finish at the Class 3A Decatur Sectional and finished in a tie for 24th at the Class 3A state tourney. Ottwell has signed to play at Illinois State.
Cole Packingham, junior, Liberty
Packingham had a strong campaign once again this spring. His season was capped off in spectacular fashion in the postseason with a sizzling 9-under-par 135 to capture third at the Class 5 state tournament to go along with a second consecutive Class 5 District 2 championship. The highlight of Packingham’s regular season was undoubtedly the 7-under 63 he shot to win the Warrenton Invitational White Division title and set a new state record for a par-70 course. He also tied for third at the Bulldog Battle.
Austin Rinkenberger, junior, Lafayette
Rinkenberger enjoyed a solid postseason for a Lancers squad that brought home team hardware with a fourth-place finish at the Class 5 state tournament. He tied for third at the Class 5 District 1 tournament and then carded an even-par 144 to finish in a tie for 11th at the Class 5 tourney. During the regular season, Rinkenberger fired a 5-under to win the Cape Notre Dame Invitational.
All-Metro boys golf second team
Jacob Florek, senior, Mascoutah
Florek posted the best state finish of any Metro East golfer last fall with a tie for ninth place at the Class 2A state tournament. He also fashioned a runner-up effort at the Class 2A Waterloo Regional and an eighth-place showing at the Class 2A Anna-Jonesboro Sectional. He has signed to play at Cal State Monterey Bay.
Mack Freeman, senior, Lafayette
Freeman fired a 1-under-par 143 to finish in 10th place at the Class 5 state tournament, as he helped the Lancers to a fourth-place team finish. He also finished in a tie for 13th at the Class 5 District 1 tourney.
Isaac Kelley, junior, Francis Howell
Kelley had a standout season that including earning GAC South player of the year honors. He finished as the runner-up at the Class 5 District 2 tournament and also had a third-place finish at the GAC South Conference tourney.
Kolton Kijanko, sophomore, Francis Howell
Kijanko had a strong second spring for the Vikings, who were fifth as a team in Class 5. He posted a 3-under-par 141 to finish eighth at the Class 5 state tournament, earned a fourth-place showing at the Bantle Memorial tourney and tied for 12th at the Class 5 District 2 tourney.
Mason Lewis, senior, Edwardsville
Lewis had a solid fall once again for the Tigers, including being named Class 3A co-player of the year by the Metro East Golf Coaches Association. He posted a pair of runner-up efforts at the Class 3A Collinsville Regional and the Southwestern Conference tournament and added a seventh-place showing at the Class 3A Decatur Sectional and a tie for 19th at the Class 3A state tourney. He has signed to play at SMU.
Nick Vilela, junior, SLUH
Vilela was a key part of the Class 5 champion Junior Billikens outstanding crop of underclassmen. He fired a 2-under-par 140 to finish in ninth place at the Class 5 state tournament and also finished in a tie for 10th at the Class 5 District 1 tourney.
All-Metro boys golf third team
Caden Fehr, sophomore, Chaminade
Fehr carded an even-par 144 to finish in a tie for 11th place at the Class 5 state tournament. He also finished in a tie for 18th at the Class 5 District 2 tourney for a Red Devils squad that captured a district title and finished as the state runner-up.
Owen Moss, senior, Mater Dei
Moss was named the Class 1A player of the year by the Metro East Golf Coaches Association. He enjoyed a strong postseason for the Knights with a runner-up finish at the Class 1A Carlyle Regional, a tie for third place at the Class 1A Zeigler-Royalton Sectional and a tie for 13th at the Class 1A state tourney.
Trey Roessler, senior, Vianney
Roessler finished a strong career with the Golden Griffins by earning individual medalist honors at the Webster Cup. He also tied for eighth place at the Class 5 District 1 tournament and placed in the top 25 at the Class 5 state tourney. Roessler has given a verbal commitment to Olivet Nazarene.
Hudson Shy, sophomore, St. Charles West
Shy was the GAC North player of the year after a season that included championships at the Bogey Hills Invitational and the conference tournament, as well as a tie for 10th place at the Class 3 District 2 tourney and a tie for 17th at the Class 3 state tourney.
Owen Shy, senior, St. Charles West
Shy enjoyed a strong postseason run for the Warriors, capturing medalist honors at the Class 3 District 2 tournament on the strength of an even-par 70 and posting a fifth-place finish at the Class 3 state tourney with a 3-over 147.
Owen Walther, senior, John Burroughs
Walther enjoyed a strong senior campaign that included firing a 3-under-par 68 to take home co-individual medalist honors at the Metro League tournament. He earned a sixth-place showing at the Class 3 District 2 tournament and tied for seventh at the Class 3 state tourney.
St. Louis University High junior Harrison Zipfel is the All-Metro boys golfer of the year.
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