Krambeer brothers represent MFL MarMac at state golf

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

MFL MarMac golfers Ben Krambeer and Nick Krambeer are headed to the state meet. The teammates—and brothers—both shot a 75 in 18 holes at Fox Ridge Golf Course in Dike, coming in a respective sixth and eighth at the Class 2A districts on May 14.

This is the second state appearance for Nick, who was MFL MarMac’s first ever qualifier in 2022 as a sophomore, but the first for Ben, a junior.

“It’s been a goal of mine since I was a kid. It makes it a lot more special that I get to go with my brother,” Ben said.

“It’s pretty awesome,” agreed Nick.

The Krambeers qualified on a day in which the Bulldogs, as a team, shot a season low score of 309 and the fourth best Class 2A score in the state. In addition to Nick and Ben, Quinn McGeough posted a 79 to place 21st, and Sawyer Keehner was 27th with an 80.

They ran into some tough competition, though. MFL MarMac placed fourth behind Aplington-Parkersburg’s 308, and just three shots back of second place Hudson, who advanced to state with Columbus Catholic. The Sailors came in at 298.

“Right before we played, I felt good about the whole day, but I thought it was going to be Osage and Aplington-Parkersburg we were going to be competing against. Waterloo Columbus had their day,” said head coach Jake Wilke. “Losing by three strokes in an 18-hole tournament when you take four scores is nothing. That’s one three-putt, going out of bounds, one guy having one bad hole, and that turns it. But golf is a lot like life. There’s going to be some really good days and there are going to be some bad days. But like my grandpa always told me, it’s worth going back for more.” 

“As bummed as I was with the team not qualifying, being in the toughest district in the state of Iowa and shooting the fourth best score in the entire state, I’m super proud of the entire team,” Wilke reflected.

Like Wilke, Ben was confident heading into districts on the same course where he played at districts last year.

“I started off pretty solid, and was kind of back and forth with bogeying and birdieing. I kind of had a weak finish, but got there still. It worked out,” he said.

Nick got off to a bad start, and was four over through the first five holes. 

“I calmed myself down a little bit and went under through the rest of the holes and was feeling pretty good after that,” he shared. “In golf, you have to have a strong mental aspect of the game. One bad shot, you have to forget it, and go to the next hole. That’s my mentality.”

That’s an aspect of the game Wilke has stressed.

“I’ve gone by the 70 percent mental, 30 percent physical. Coach Meyer, Corlett and I can help you with the physical, and we can hound on you about the mental, but until you believe it and adapt to that mentality,” he said. “You’re going to have a bad shot, a really dumb three-putt, two chips you wish you could take back, but knowing you are going to have way more good shots than bad shots goes a long way in this game. Even professionals still deal with that.” 

In addition to mentality, Ben said he has worked on his wedges and driving as the season progressed.

“In the beginning of the season, it felt like everything was working perfectly. Then I started struggling with my wedges, but I’m getting that back a bit. Then my driver was struggling, so I’ve been working on that. Everything feels like it’s falling into place right now,” he explained.

“You’re talking fractions of an inch things in your swing that can make the ball do a totally different thing,” Wilke added.

Nick’s focus has been putting.

“I’ve worked on it a lot through the season. It’s working out for me,” he said.

“We have hammered the short game for the entire team,” Wilke noted, “but with Nick, we have really worked on putting a lot the last couple weeks. It’s really improved his overall score and confidence on the green. They say ‘drive for show and putt for dough,’ and Nick is starting to figure out he can really make up some scores with the putter.”

The Krambeers competed at state at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames Monday and Tuesday, May 20 and 21. Nick described the course, which he golfed on at state two years ago, as straightforward. 

“It’s a links course, super long. The greens are super big and there’s a lot of undulation to the greens. There are some open spots to miss,” Wilke added.

The coach feared weather would be the biggest question mark.

“That’s one thing about golf. We can’t control the weather,” he said. “When you get down there, you just have to play your game.”

Wilke said previous state experience—and simply making it out of a grueling district—will instill confidence in Nick and Ben.

“The first time Nick made it, it was emotional for his entire family. The second time, you could tell he was extremely proud of himself, but also very appreciative. He knows, since we didn’t get there last year, how hard it is to get there. Ben witnessed that too. Once we get down there, you realize you’re one of the best players in the state of Iowa. Getting out of our district gives you more confidence on where you can compete with the rest of the state,” Wilke stated. “I look forward to both these guys tearing it up.”

This is just the latest highlight for an MFL MarMac program that has grown in numbers and success in Wilke’s four-year tenure. The list includes four conference championship teams, including both boys and girls, as well as five individual conference champions, strong sectional and district performances and, now, a pair of state qualifiers.

“It’s been Ben’s goal, ever since he saw his brother play at state, that’s what he wanted to do too. The stars aligned to have both qualify,” he said. “And also to be in the mix that long and put our entire team on the map. We had coaches shake our hands who said, ‘We didn’t think MFL MarMac had a golf program. You have a golf program now.’”