WEBSTER CITY — Eric Dawson might not say it, but this is a fact — he’s a danged good golfer. So when he says a golf course is difficult, then you know it’s going to be a grind.

That’s what his Webster City boys’ golf team will face today and tomorrow at the Class 3A state golf tournament. Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames, the home of the Iowa State golf team, is no joke.

“I’m a decent golfer and I shot an 89 there (on Thursday during a practice round) in the wind,” Dawson, the Lynx head coach, said in the lead-up to Webster City’s first trip to state since 2017. “I’d watched golf there, but never actually played it before and it’s a beast. You have to be accurate off the tee. If you do that, it’s gettable, but that’s the challenge.”

Veenker plays 6,724 yards from the tips, and the par-72 layout is littered with tight fairways and holes that must be played strategically, both off the tee and from the middle of the fairway.

In other words, Veenker is not a grip it and rip it course. And any golfer that tries to play it that way will pay a steep price.

But the difficult challenge that awaits WCHS and the nine other teams in the field — 2021 state champion Gilbert, 2021 state runner-up Solon, Spencer, ADM, MOC-Floyd Valley, Knoxville, Pella, Newton and Washington — may work to the Lynx advantage. At least that’s how Dawson sees it for his group that isn’t expected to contend for a team championship.

“It’s almost better that we’re playing a hard course because you never know what could happen,” Dawson said. “Even the better players can struggle.”

Cael Nixon will be the first WCHS player off the 10th hole at 11 a.m. during the opening round this morning. Braden Doering will step to the 10th tee at 11:10 a.m., and Devon Stoakes, Drew Schwering, Garrett Arnold and Beau Klaver will follow, each group separated in 10-minute increments.

The Lynx are underdogs, perhaps one of the bigger underdogs in the field. Dawson hopes that fact helps to free up his players.

“Our attitude is let’s just go down and have fun because nobody expects us to do things,” Dawson said. “At the (North Central) conference tournament, there was so much pressure on us because we were supposed to win it and we didn’t play well. That’s way more difficult than just going in and thinking you never know.”

In reality, the entire field is an underdog to Gilbert, which won the 2021 state title in a romp. The Tigers return four players off that team, including third-place finisher Brock Snyder and top-10 finishers Joey Currans and Sawyer Hansen.

It’s not a stretch to say Gilbert has four or five players that have the capabilities to shoot under par. That’s not a reality for the other teams in the field.

Individually, Hogan Hansen of Waverley-Shell Rock returns to try to defend the title he captured last spring. He qualified through the rugged Decorah district that included Gilbert’s contingent, a meet Currans won with a 68.

The second round is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Pairings will be released following the conclusion of Monday’s opening round.

AT A GLANCE

What: Class 3A State Golf Tournament.

When: Monday and Tuesday.

Where: Veenker Memorial Golf Course, Ames.

Time: 10:30 a.m. on Monday, 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Field: Gilbert, Spencer, Solon, ADM, MOC-Floyd Valley, Webster City, Knoxville, Pella, Newton, Washington.

The Favorite: Gilbert is the defending 3A state champion and returns 4 players off that team.

Individuals To Watch: Hogan Hansen of Waverley-Shell Rock was the 2021 state champion … Gilbert’s Brock Snyder, Joey Currans and Sawyer Hansen all placed in the top 10 a season ago … MOC-Floyd Valley’s Davis Korver, Pella’s Will Simpson and Knoxville’s Evan Smith all return after finishing in the top 10 at the 2021 state meet.

Webster City Tee Times (Monday)

11 a.m. (hole 10) — Cael Nixon.

11:10 a.m. (hole 10) — Braden Doering.

11:20 a.m. (hole 10) — Devon Stoakes.

11:30 a.m. (hole 10) — Drew Schwering.

11:40 a.m. (hole 10) — Garrett Arnold.

11:50 a.m. (hole 10) — Beau Klaver.