Hawkeye RedTails Show Grit at Battle of the Mississippi

The Hawkeye Community College RedTails Men's Golf team faced a stern test this week at the 2025 Battle of the Mississippi, held September 29–30 at Fyre Lake National Golf Club and hosted by Black Hawk College. The two-day event featured teams from across NJCAA Division II, with Fyre Lake's demanding layout pushing players both mentally and physically.

The RedTails posted a team score of 6,505 over two rounds (3,290 in Round 1, 3,215 in Round 2), demonstrating persistence across a course that punished even the slightest mistakes. Sophomore Preston Martens led the team individually, carding rounds of 76 and 84 to finish at 160 (+20) for the tournament. Close behind was Mitchell Randall, who matched Martens' first-round 76 before finishing with an 85, closing at 161 (+21) overall.

Freshman Graham Bremner turned in two steady rounds of 81 and 85 to post 166 (+26), showing consistency in the face of challenging pin placements and fast greens. Oliver Thompson added rounds of 85 and 89 (174, +34), while Jaden Hawbaker rounded out the team with scores of 93 and 96 (189, +49), gaining valuable experience in his debut season.

Head Coach Micah Destivals praised his team's resilience throughout the event. "Fyre Lake presented a really tough test for our golf team this week, and I was proud of how we came back from some bad holes and didn't give up. Looking forward to playing at Whispering Creek in Sioux City next week."

The RedTails will look to build on this performance as they prepare for their next tournament at Whispering Creek Golf Club, where they aim to continue developing their competitive edge and course management under pressure.