In high school, Corey Schultz competed in multiple sports, including basketball, baseball and golf.

It was on the diamond that Schultz’s pitching skills were noticed by scouts. However, his passion featured a object that was smaller and more dimpled than a baseball.

With that, the Denison native joined the ISU golf team in the fall of 2000. After redshirting the 2000-2001 season, Schultz has participated in all of Iowa State’s tournaments this year, averaging around 77.9 strokes per round.

At 6-feet, 6-inches tall, Schultz is more of a rarity than the norm in the sport.

“I’ve played with some tall guys, but none that use their height like Corey does,” ISU freshman golfer Chad Kovaleski. “You see a lot of golfers that are 6-2 [or] 6-3 and when you see a golfer that’s 6-6, it kind of jumps out at you.”

With a taller frame, ISU head coach Jay Horton said that Schultz’s swing arch is enhanced, giving him a chance to hit the ball longer from the tee.

“His length is definitely an advantage,” Horton said. “He’s still learning how to improve his shotmaking off of the tee.”

Last week, Schultz led the Cyclones in scoring for the first time during his collegiate career. The 225-stroke effort put him in a tie for 43rd at the Stevinson Invitational. The three-round score was the best performance of his brief time at Iowa State.

“He’s still gaining confidence,” Horton said. “I’m very encouraged by his improvements on the course.”

Horton said last year Schultz was able to focus on the sport full time. This year, the sophomore has had to prove himself in tournament play.

“He’s always been confident,” Horton said. “He’s pretty competitive when it comes to sports. He just hasn’t had the chance to play around the country on the courses we play.”

Along with his length off the tee, Schultz brings a younger, more carefree attitude to the team, and is open to learning.

“Just being young, we can’t take it as seriously as some of the other guys that have been on the team longer,” Kovaleski said. “We’re kind of teaching each other.”

Horton, a homegrown product himself, said Iowa golfers often get overlooked because of the northern locality of the state. He has enjoyed having a home-state player performing well under his program.

“When an Iowa kid comes through and starts playing well, I’m very proud of it,” he said.

While just how far his talents will take him is unknown, one certainty is that Schultz is enjoying being out on the course.

“He’s not really the jokester, [but] he brings a new vocabulary to the team,” Kovaleski said. “He likes to have fun and it shows.”