Geiger Counter: How Mars junior golfer went from missing the varsity roster to incredibly steady leader
Jackson Geiger appreciates the personal challenge of golf. Last year, the task at hand was to prove he belonged on the boys varsity team at Mars.
Then a sophomore, he was unable to make the cut during preseason tryouts.
“I wasn’t awful, but wasn’t quite good enough to make varsity,” Geiger said. “It showed me what I needed to work on to improve.”
Geiger did crack the lineup for a few varsity matches near the end of last season and played well, but his game has reached another level this year. In 12 matches entering Thursday, his worst score was a 38 and he’s averaging 35.16 strokes per nine holes.
In a match against Knoch at Butler Country Club Aug. 20, he fired a 3-under-par 32, tying Dave Casteel’s school record from 2005.
“The start I’ve gotten off to has definitely helped my confidence, but it’s the kind of effort I thought I was capable of, even three or four months ago,” Geiger said. “I feel as long as my mind is right during a match, my game will fall in line.”
Geiger said his average drive is between 275 and 280 yards, “but I can reach 300 if I really get into one.
“The strongest part of my game is my irons. I’ve become really consistent with ball striking and am very confident addressing those shots.”
Geiger has been golfing for years, but it wasn’t until 2023 that he began focusing on the sport in earnest. He started taking lessons at Sewickley Golf Academy.
“A lot of my friends were playing, and I wanted to join them,” he said. “Golf is a battle against yourself, and I enjoy that aspect of it.”
This summer, Geiger competed in six Isaly's Junior Golf Tour events, placing first in rounds held at Butler Country Club and Highlands Golf Club at Seven Springs Resort.
While vacationing with his family in Florida, he entered a tournament near Tampa and finished second. When he golfed 54 holes during Mars’ tryouts earlier this month, he solidified his spot by shooting a combined 7-over during rounds at Conley’s, Suncrest and Pheasant Ridge.
Now, Mars boys golf is reaping the benefits of Geiger’s improvement. His play is helping the Planets hang with the likes of North Allegheny, Butler, Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland, all WPIAL Section 3-3A opponents.
Geiger credits his playing partner, Lukas Singh, who also consistently shoots in the 30s, for aiding his progression.
“Jackson is very steady, doesn’t get upset with himself,” Mars coach Rich Schoeffel said. “He knows his position on the team and knows that others have to play well for the team to be successful.”
Geiger has done particularly well at Butler Country Club, where the Planets play some of their home matches. In four nine-hole rounds there, his average score is 35.2.
“The WPIAL (3A individual) championship is being held there this year,” Geiger said. “I know I can tear it up on that course. It fits the best part of my game. My iron shots are usually really good getting me close to the hole.”
