Wood, Lohrbach Twins, Castenson, Conrad and Larimer Named Morris Family Scholarship $500 Recipient-
The Iowa PGA Foundation Morris Family Scholarship committee has selected Camille Wood of Bettendorf, Iowa, Ava and Ella Lohrbach of Ames, Iowa, Asher Castenson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Drew Conrad of Washington, Iowa and Drew Larimer of Cedar Falls, Iowa as the 2026 Morris Family Scholarship honoree, each will received $500 to help with their experience and activity in golf, their desire to play college golf, leadership skills, high school activities and interest and financial need.
Camille Wood –
When asked what this means to win, Wood responded with, “Receiving this scholarship is such an honor. I am incredibly grateful for the support that the Morris Family is providing to me and the golf community. This scholarship means that they have belief in the futures of young golfers across Iowa. I will be using this financial assistance and kindness as I continue my golf journey at the University of Northern Iowa.”
Camille will be attending the University of Northern Iowa to continue her academic and athletic career.
Wood believes she truly fell in love with the game during her sophomore high school season. All her practice had turned into a goal to break 80. The number seemed daunting, and after shooting multiple high scores in the early spring it almost seemed impossible. However, on the second day of the state tournament she shot 77. It was one of the best feelings she had felt in a long time, and winning state as a team for the second year in a row was the cherry on the top. The summer after she played in the Iowa PGA tournaments to test her game and practiced like she was on tour. She also started to work her first job at Davenport Country Club where she immersed herself even deeper in the world of golf. This is where she begam to see herself taking golf to the next level. Wood began looking into college golf and training even harder so that she could somehow take herself to the Division 1 stage.
David Lawrence, Director of Instruction at Davenport Country Club, “What stands out most to me about Camille is her character. She has achieved a level of success that could easily cause someone to become focused only on results, recognition, or personal goals. Camille has never allowed that to happen. She remains grounded. She treats people well. She competes fiercely, but with respect. She understands that golf is not only about scores and trophies, but also about integrity, perseverance, and how you handle both success and adversity.”
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Camille Wood as our 2026 $500 Morris Family Scholarship Award Winner.
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Ava Lohrbach –
When asked what this means to win, Ava Lohrbach responded with, “Receiving this scholarship is an incredible honor and means so much to me. I am so grateful for the relationships that I have built through the Morris family through golf. Their generosity has made this opportunity incredibly special, and I am excited to carry their support with me into the next chapter of my journey.”
What sets her experience apart, she thinks, is that she experienced golf not only as a player, but as a mentor and service provider. Working at Ames Golf & Country Club and at golf events showed her how much dedication it takes for golf professionals to serve their communities. The early mornings, the details nobody notices, the way a well-run course brings people together. She also volunteered at her local course teaching young players the fundamentals, which tested her patience and made her a better communicator. Those experiences are a big part of why she is heading to Drake University this fall to study business while playing on the women’s golf team. Her goal is to combine her education and everything she has learned inside the industry to eventually open a family golf business with her sisters one that is welcoming to all and focused on growing the game.
Ian Smith, Activities Director of Gilbert Community School District, “Outside of academics, Ava is deeply involved and leads by example. On the golf course and in her other activities, she is known for her work ethic, positivity, and quiet determination. She is the type of student who arrives early, stays late, and continually looks for ways to improve. While this scholarship is not based on athletic performance, the habits she has developed through athletics — discipline, perseverance, and teamwork — carry over into every area of her life.”
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Ava Lohrbach as our 2026 $500 Morris Family Scholarship Award Winner.
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Ken Schall, PGA Professional, “Ava and Ella were also part of the first Iowa team to qualify for the PGA Junior League National. Finals last summer, representing the state of Iowa in New Mexico. One thing that really stands out about the twins is their work ethic. Their practice sessions at Veenker Golf Course in Ames have become legendary. They also are involved in a youth mentorship program at Veenker to help develop other young players. If the players behind them follow their lead, Ames is destined to have a lot of young players in the pipeline. These twin sisters; Ava a righty and Ella a lefty, are setting a fine example of how to work to become super players.”
Ella Lohrbach–
When asked what this means to win, Ella Lohrbach responded with, “Receiving this scholarship means so much to me because it represents both the hard work I’ve put into golf and the special relationships this game has given me. I’m especially grateful to receive it from a family who I have come to know through golf and whose support means so much as I continue pursuing my goals.”
Ella will be attending Drake University this fall to study business and play on the golf team with her twin sister Ava. A highlight of her golf career came in New Mexico. Her PGA Junior League team became the first team from Iowa to ever reach the 17U National Championships, and standing on that first tee representing our state was both terrifying and amazing. We were the underdogs, far from home, playing against teams that were regulars in the event. She learned she could handle pressure she didn’t think she could handle. Between that experience, summer tournaments, and high school state golf, she has gotten a lot of practice staying composed of when things go wrong and adjusting when a round isn’t going her way. Those skills have carried over into everything else she does.
Grant Walker, Gilbert Girls Golf Coach, “Beyond her amazing talent, Ella consistently models high character while competing. She is the ultimate teammate and is often more focused on the success of others than on her own accomplishments. Her attitude on the course is something that truly separates her from many players at her level. It is difficult to tell whether she is having a great round of a challenging one, as her even temperament and composure never waver – traits that serve her well both in competition and leadership.”
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Ella Lohrbach as our 2026 $500 Morris Family Scholarship Award Winner.
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Asher Castenson –
When asked what this means to win, Asher Castenson responded with, “I am truly honored and grateful to have received the Morris Family Scholarship! This scholarship means the world to me because it helps alleviate my worry of paying for college and allows me to pursue my goal of teaching kids the game of golf.”
This fall, Castenson will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to major in Professional Golf Management (PGM). Through the PGM program he will be playing lots of tournaments every semester, fine tuning his golf game. While participating in the PGM program, his goal is to learn how to teach others the game of golf. Following Castenson’s education, he plans to implement classes that will teach kids how to play golf. By implementing classes, kids would be taught swing paths, eyes on the ball, shoulder positioning, and other parts of a golf swing. Then by participating in tournaments, these kids would use the skills that they learned to compete with other peers to feel appreciated, seen by others, and receive awards.
John Debold, Production and Facilities Director, Veritas Church in Cedar Rapids, “Asher has proven to be a quick learner with some of our most difficult tech. He is very proficient with our video and lighting systems, and has become a leader among our student tech team. He’s able to identify and fix problems before they actually arise, and understands how to balance an immediate technical fix with the broader experience for our attendees.”
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Asher Castenson as our 2026 $500 Morris Family Scholarship Award Winner.
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Drew Conrad –
When asked what this means to win, Drew Conrad responded with, “Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me and proves to me that my hard work and involvement has paid off and been noticed by others. I look forward to continuing my education in Accounting and golfing at Wartburg. This scholarship will help me financially and allow me to focus on my studies and golf.”
Conrad will attend Wartburg College and continue his golf career. He is involved in many activities in and out of school. These include National Honor Society, Student Congress, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Youth Salute, golf, basketball, and various volunteer opportunities. He is the secretary of NHS, vice president of Student Congress, huddle leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a leader on both the golf and basketball teams. In addition to these activities, he also works at a local accounting firm and at the golf course and YMCA during the summers.
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Drew Conrad as our 2026 $500 Morris Family Scholarship Award Winner.
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Drew Larimer–
When asked what this means to win, Drew Larimer responded with, “Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me in many ways. The biggest one is just understanding what the Morris Family does for the Jr PGA program in Iowa and being able to represent them at the next level. I was fortunate enough to play in the Morris Family invitational at CRCC last year and they made the entire experience so great for all of us playing. I can tell that they truly want what is best for all of us competing in these tournaments and I’m honored to carry this scholarship in their name going forward.”
Larimer will attend the University of South Dakota where he plans to earn a degree in Sport Management and Marketing and play on the golf team. He looks forward to playing on the USD team and truly embracing the student-athlete life at the next level. It’s been a dream since he was a kid. He has always watched college campus visits on YouTube because he enjoys seeing the team aspect, that’s what he truly looks forward to the most at USD, just being a part of that team. He wants to work hard with them, stay late after practice, and be in an environment that will make everyone better. Also, he wants to be part of the student-athlete community he has been working toward his whole life. Having access to resources and being in an environment that allows him to work as hard as he wants is just so enticing he can’t pass it up. Overall, he looks forward to being part of an amazing team and gaining an experience for which he has worked so hard.
Jacob Bermel, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course and Head Men’s Golf Coach at Cedar Falls High School, “What truly sets Drew apart is his character and commitment to his team. He was consistently the first to volunteer when help was needed for team fundraisers and program events. He understands that building a successful program requires service, accountability, and leadership. Drew leads by example, supports his teammates, and demonstrates sportsmanship in every setting; qualities that reflect positively on our team, program and the game of golf itself.”
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Drew Larimer as our 2026 $500 Morris Family Scholarship Award Winner.
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