CL girls top St. Edmond at home golf meet

On Friday, May 2, the Clear Lake girls golf team hosted St. Edmond at Veterans Memorial Golf Club.  Clear Lake shot 177 and St. Ed’s 211. 

Clear Lake’s Emily Snelling claimed medalist honors with a 37.  Other counting scores for the Lions included 46s from Maddie Hess and Erin Gates, and a 48 from Paige Backhaus.

  “With the limited practice we had  before this meet because of the crappy weather we have had, I thought we played extremely well,” said Coach Adam Brinkman.  “One hundred seventy-seven is our lowest round of the year so far, and they battled out the whole round.”

He noted Hess shot her first round in the 40’s this year and was playing very well, but played the last two holes at five over par. 

“She is one of the hardest workers on the team, and it is paying off,” said Brinkman.  “Shooting 46 will be a huge confidence boost for her to lead towards tournament time.” 

On Monday, May 5, the Lions played in a quad against Charles City, Hampton-Dumont, and Eagle Grove in Hampton. Charles City won with a 198, Clear Lake 209, Hampton 229, and Eagle Grove 215. 

Snelling was again the medalist with a round of 40.  Charles City’s runner up medalist was Megan Joerger with a 42. 

Clear Lakes four scores were Snelling 40, Backhaus 45, Maddy Hartnett 61, and Hess 63. 

  “Hampton Country Club is a challenging course,” said Brinkman.  “It has some tough tee shots, and the greens are very quick and hard to read. Course knowledge is important for courses like this, and I am going to make sure the girls have the best course knowledge for the courses we play the rest of the way. Emily and Paige were both playing very strong, but just didn’t finish they way they would have liked.”

The Lions have the rest of the week off from meets, and Brinkman says his players are going to spend a lot of time 50 yards and in.  “That seems to be our biggest weakness right now, and if we turn it around then we will be able to decrease some strokes that we know we can.”

The Lions are now 10-3 overall, and don’t play until the North Central Conference meet Monday, May 12, at Iowa Falls.