CL girls golf gets in the swing

by Marianne Gasaway

The Clear Lake Girls golf team had four meets during the past week— two nine-hole meets and two 18-hole tournaments.

CL 173, Webster City 228

The team had its second meet of the year Tuesday, April 19, against Webster City. The Lions won the North Central Conference dual by a score of 173-228.

“It was a bitterly cold night and play was a little slow, but we came out on top and scored well for the conditions,” said Coach Colby Andrews.  

Meghan DeLong was the first place medalist with a 39 and Rebecca DeLong took second with a 40. Behind them was Macey Holck with a 45 and Jaden Ainley with 49.

Toni Dicki Invitational

Thursday the team traveled to Ankeny to play in the Toni Dicki Invitational at Otter Creek.  The 13-team 18-hole tournament included a good number of 4A schools and provided a good test for the Lions.

“This was a tournament with larger schools. All but us and Newton were 4A schools,” explained Coach Colby Andrews.  

Clear Lake ended up taking second place in the tournament, shooting 340 and losing to West Des Moines Valley by 14 strokes.

Rebecca DeLong took fourth as an individual with a 75 and Meghan DeLong was eighth with an 84. Jaden Ainley came in 12th with an 88 and Macey Holck tied for 16th with a 93. 

“This was just an awesome day as a team,” said Coach Andrews.  “Three of our top four scorers had their lowest ever round in a high school tournament.  Jaden Ainley broke 90 for the first time and Macey Holck broke 95 for the first time. Seventy-five is the lowest Rebecca has shot in a high school tournament. Meghan didn’t have her best day, but still salvaged a decent round with a rough start to her day. The team score of 340 is lower than we shot all of last year in any 18-hole tournament.  Otter Creek is a State Tournament site for girls’ golf, so it was awesome to see them play that well at a tough course and post a great score.”

CL 189, Humboldt 194, Algona 235

Friday, the team traveled to Algona for a triangular against Algona and Humboldt.  Despite not playing their best golf, the Lions won by five strokes.  Clear Lake shot 189, Hum

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boldt 194, and Algona shot 235. “This was a big win because it was another conference meet,” noted Coach Andrews.  

Rebecca DeLong was the second-place medalist, shooting a 44.  Meghan DeLong and Rebecca tied for second, but Meghan lost on the card back. 

“None of the girls had ever played River Road Golf Course. The course is super wet and it is an extremely long course anyways. With those two conditions on top of it being really windy, it made for a long afternoon,” said Andrews.

New Hampton

Saturday the Lions were at New Hampton to play in the New Hampton Coed Tournament. Clear Lake shot their second 18-hole score under 350 and won the title. Host New Hampton came in second with a 376. 

“This is a tournament we have never won since I have been the coach. On Saturday, that changed,” said Andrews.  “Everyone played well in the really windy conditions. Coach Holck and I were extremely proud of how they bounced back after not playing very well on Friday and then turning around and shooting a great score Saturday. That is the stuff we really look at is how do we come back from not playing our best golf. It was awesome to see such drastic improvement.”

Meghan DeLong shot 77 and was the first place medalist.  She had a solid round and kept herself out of trouble, with only one double bogey. Rebecca DeLong took second place with an 83.  

“Rebecca had a bad front nine, shooing 45 and came back with a two-over par 38 to salvage a good decent round for herself,” said the coach.

Macey Holck shot her lowest round ever with a 90.

“The most impressive part was her shooting that score with a 10 on her scorecard. She didn’t let one bad hole ruin her round,” said Andrews.

Jaden Ainley followed up her great round Thursday with another good round, shooting 92. 

“The team is playing some really good golf right now and we are excited to see what they can do moving forward,” said Andrews.

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