Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota owner Casey Johnson (far right) presents the 2026 Webster County golf tournament winners (left to right): Cody Jaeschke (men's open division); Randy Stults (men's senior division); Rick Pingel (men's super senior division) and Emma Lloyd (youth age 14-17). Not pictured: Dennis Woodall (legends division).

Plenty of new faces joined the winner’s circle at the 46th annual Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster County golf tournament on Saturday.

After years of close calls and near misses, Cody Jaescke took matters into his own hands with a four-stroke victory over previous champion Austin Morrow in the men’s open division. He was joined by Rick Pingel (men’s super senior) and Dennis Woodall (men’s legends) as first-time champions, along with inaugural junior gold medalists Emma Lloyd and Abel Rasch.

Randy Stults made it four senior titles with an impressive showing, and Peg Christensen and Kathy Fortune teamed to again take the women’s two-player best ball crown.

The 38-year-old Jaeschke has been a perennial contender for years. A breakthrough victory at the Travis Habhab Memorial Lakeside Amateur last month helped set the stage for this performance, as he delivered a one-under par 71 at the Fort Dodge Country Club followed by a one-over 36 in the championship round on the front side.

“It’s nice to finally have it all come together,” Jaeschke said. “Like with (the Lakeside Am), I was just trying to play my game and post a competitive score. I didn’t really have a lot of (breathing room) between myself and Austin. He’s a good player and I knew I had to keep up the pace (after the opening 18).”

Jaeschke was able to overcome struggles with his approach shots and a pair of three-putts late to prevail.

“My chipping and putting were big for most of the day,” said Jaeschke, owner of Jaeschke Trucking in Fort Dodge. “I missed a lot of greens (in regulation), but was able to scramble a lot. Thankfully my short game saved me.”

Jaeschke was a single stroke back a year ago in the runner-up position, and placed third here in 2024.

“The course was in incredible shape,” Jaeschke said of the FDCC. “The best it’s been all year. (Superintendent Mark Siems and his staff) did a great job of having it ready. This is always a fun tournament to play in, and of course it means a little more because it’s local and a good time with friends.”

Morrow (111) – a three-time county golf winner – and Zach Colin (115) followed Jaeschke.

This year’s championship was personal for Stults, who ran away with his fourth gold since 2018. Stults dedicated the title to his late mother, Beverly.

“I was thinking a lot about her and this was for her,” Stults said. “This is special because it’s my first since (she passed in March of 2025). She was on my mind going through all the emotions (of winning).”

Stults held a commanding eight-stroke advantage heading into the championship round, then carded a 37 for good measure to run away with the win.

“I really haven’t played that well this year, to be honest,” Stults said. “I couldn’t get off the tee at all (Saturday), but fortunately, my chipping and putting was outstanding.”

Stults stumbled a little out of the gate with a double bogey on the first hole of the final nine, but calmed the waters with a birdie on the par-5 7th and parred in from there. Steve Schmidt and John Gallentine tied for second place.

Like Jaeschke, Pingel had been in the hunt for years but hadn’t cleared the victory hurdle until Saturday. He shot 77-38-115 to edge Ron Cummins by a single shot.

“It feels great,” Pingel said in between congratulatory hugs from friends and regular playing partners. “My short game was working and I had two birdies to start the last nine, which helped a lot obviously. I knew there were a lot of golfers right there (five players finished within four strokes of Pingel).

“The course was in incredible shape. You have to make some adjustments to both the fairways and the greens when you regularly play Lakeside like I do, but I played well and I’m really thankful for the opportunity. It’s a competitive group (in the super senior division). You have to earn it.”

Don Sawyer and Frank Howell tied for third behind Pingel and Cummins. Two-time defending super senior champ Craig Patterson and Jon Kern shared fifth.

Woodall edged Rick Jones by two shots and Jim Dalton by three for the Legends trophy.

Lloyd, a senior-to-be at Fort Dodge Senior High, fired a career-best 79 at Lakeside for the first-ever youth 14-17 year old championship.

“I drove the ball well and my putter and wedges were working in my favor,” Lloyd said. “This means a lot because it shows younger kids what you can accomplish if you keep playing and working on your game. And being able to win (locally) is something that gives me added confidence.”

Lloyd had one birdie, at the par-4 15th, and avoided any big numbers on her scorecard. Alex Berger was the runner-up in the 14-17 bracket.

Rasch topped siblings Maverick and Declan for the age 11-13 crown.

Christensen and Fortune defended their women’s two-player best shot title at one-over par 73, clipping Lee Ann Ihrke and Cori Van Sickler for the top spot at Lakeside. Samantha Kuhn and Lisa Coleman placed third.

Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota served as the title sponsor of the event for the 21st consecutive year. Owner Casey Johnson introduced and congratulated the winners in front of the No. 1 tee box at the FDCC afterward.

FORT DODGE FORD LINCOLN TOYOTA WEBSTER COUNTY GOLF TOURNAMENT

Men’s Open Division – 1. Cody Jaeschke 71-36-107; 2. Austin Morrow 74-37-111; 3. Zach Colin 77-38-115; 4. Jared Gross 80-36-116; 5. Ryan Dahlstrom 76-43-119; (tie) Devin Sullivan 80-39-119; (tie) Kyle Bickford 81-38-119; 8. Mason Frevert 82-38-120.

Men’s Senior Division – 1. Randy Stults 72-37-109; 2. Steve Schmidt 80-45-125; (tie) John Gallentine 88-37-125; 4. Dave Whittington 86-44-130.

Men’s Super Senior Division – 1. Rick Pingel 77-38-115; 2. Ron Cummins 76-40-116; 3. Don Sawyer 76-42-118; (tie) Frank Howell 79-39-118; 5. Jon Kern 75-44-119; (tie) Craig Patterson 84-35-119.

Legends Division – 1. Dennis Woodall 81; 2. Rick Jones 83; 3. Jim Dalton 84; 4. Greg Sampson 85.

Women’s Two-Player Best Shot – 1. Peg Christensen and Kathy Fortune 73; 2. Lee Ann Ihrke and Cori Van Sickler 73; 3. Sam Kuhn and Lisa Coleman 75. 4. Dianne Krebs and Roxanne Kuhlman 77; 5. Deb Aswegan and Janelle Groteluschen 78.

Youth (11-13) – 1. Abel Rasch; 2. Maverick Rasch; 3. Declan Rasch.

Youth (14-17) – 1. Emma Lloyd 79; 2. Alex Berger 88.