Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Reid Corridor depends on his irons for a robust quick sport.
His driver offered distance with improved accuracy off the tee this season. The putter made him efficient on the inexperienced. Add in ardour and work ethic and it’s no shock he’s one of many state’s greatest golfers.
Corridor acknowledged all of the instruments wouldn’t be the identical with out the help of his household. Dad and mom Jaclyn and Rowdy, and his older brother, Gannon, have been a particular a part of his expertise.
“I positively wouldn’t be the place I’m at proper now, in the event that they weren’t all the time there to assist me,” Corridor mentioned. “I, for positive, couldn’t do it with out them.”
Corridor’s effort afforded him a shot to defend his title on the Class 4A state golf event Friday and Saturday at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. Corridor certified as a person and anticipated his mother and father to be proper there with him each step of the way in which.
“It means rather a lot to have them all the time there to assist me for my entire profession,” mentioned Corridor, who’s making his fourth state look, successful final season at Elmcrest Nation Membership and tying for eleventh as a sophomore.
Golf has been a household affair for the Corridor household. Corridor has shared the game with them. They loaded within the automotive to journey to tournaments close to and much. You could find them on the course, following him throughout a spherical. Corridor was teammates along with his brother and grew up enjoying the sport with him and household pal, Carter Vander Zee.
“They (my mother and father) pay for all tournaments that I’m in,” Corridor mentioned. “They assist out with no matter they will to assist my golf sport, and so they attempt to come to each event they will.
“All of us have been {golfing} collectively for principally our entire careers since we have been children. We’d be on the golf course training or enjoying day-after-day, which is a very good factor simply having somebody to play with for enjoyable in the summertime. I wouldn’t be on the ability stage I’m now with out them all the time being there to play or apply with.”
Corridor can have an analogous strategy to a yr in the past, however the situation is a bit completely different. He isn’t lurking underneath the radar this time, however the stress of chasing a title doesn’t exist.
“I’ve already received one so I don’t actually have stress of successful one other,” Corridor mentioned. “It’s simply have enjoyable, play my sport and see what occurs.
“Actually, final yr I got here in at virtually an underdog. I didn’t have an important season and there have been a bunch of different nice gamers within the discipline. I used to be simply enjoying my sport and had enjoyable.”
Corridor is one among Iowa’s prime present golfers, enjoying in nationwide and worldwide occasions through the summer season. These competitions confirmed the extent he can play and supplies assurance in his means.
“That’s positively an enormous assist as a result of I do know I can play towards among the greatest within the nation,” Corridor mentioned. “Going into the state event, I do know I can compete with all people. I do know I’m one of many prime guys within the state. It’s sort of a confidence increase, realizing I can compete.”
Kennedy Coach Mike Inexperienced mentioned Corridor has cleared the extra aggravating hurdle. Extra stress can accompany qualifying on the district meet. Corridor confirmed he can deal with it, flattening some key putts. He can play free and relaxed with a spot within the discipline.
“He’s been anxious all yr,” Inexperienced mentioned. “He has simply wished to get there. It’s lastly right here and now he will get an opportunity to see if he can win one other one.”
Corridor claimed his third Mississippi Valley Convention divisional Participant of the Yr honor this season. He ranks third in 4A with a 36.13 mixed adjusted common and 70.78 18-hole common.
“He’s been so constant all yr,” Inexperienced mentioned. “He’s actually not had lots of dangerous rounds. He works so exhausting at it.”
Corridor has targeted on his method to enhance his lengthy sport to enhance his iron play. He labored to enhance the frequency of hitting fairways along with his drives that routinely measure 280 to 290 yards. Corridor can attain the 300-yard mark with a full swing and the wind at his again.
“I actually targeted on hitting the ball straight,” Corridor mentioned. “Accuracy off the tee with my driver. It’s important to be within the fairway for an opportunity to attain. I’d say I’ve fairly long way off the tee with the driving force. I simply want to manage it. That has positively helped me all through the season.”
Corridor will play his final two rounds as Kennedy. The weekend is bittersweet. He has an opportunity to place a bow on a profitable profession and transfer on to school. Corridor loved his time, however this second was inevitable.
“It’s beginning to kick in a bit bit,” Corridor mentioned. “Solely two extra rounds left. Considering of going on the market to have enjoyable. It’s the final meet. Don’t have any regrets and see what occurs. Nothing rather more I can do than that. It’s a tragic factor however the time has come, I suppose.”
CLASS 4A STATE GOLF
The place: Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny
When: First spherical on Friday, 10:30 a.m.; Second spherical on Saturday, 10 a.m.
Tickets: $10 per particular person every day; https://www.iahsaa.org/tickets/
2022 Staff champion: Johnston
Staff qualifiers: Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Dubuque Wahlert, Iowa Metropolis Excessive, Iowa Metropolis West, Johnston, Nice Valley, Southeast Polk, Waukee Northwest, West Des Moines Dowling, West Des Moines Valley
2022 particular person medalist: Reid Corridor, Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Different space particular person qualifiers: Christian Cloyd, Linn-Mar, soph.; Corridor, C.R. Kennedy, sr.; Henry Sobaski, Cedar Rapids Prairie, fr.