City High’s Overton claims CRANDIC title

CEDAR RAPIDS - Iowa City High's Sarah Overton has focused her sights on postseason goals.

She dedicated herself in the off-season to claim a state golf meet berth, which has been just out of reach the last two seasons. If Overton's play in a month mirrors her current play, she should be able to add the state meet to her resume.

Overton shot 81 in windy and chilly conditions, earning medalist honors at the CRANDIC meet Wednesday at Ellis Golf Course. She helped City High to a runner-up finish behind team champion Iowa City West, which dominated the field by 25 strokes.

Overton was already an all-state and all-Mississippi Valley Conference selection, but has just missed advancing to the final event.

'I definitely want to get to state this year,” the Little Hawk junior said. 'I missed it by two strokes my freshman year and one stroke last year. It made me work harder over the summer.”

Competition tested her skills and the elements challenged her resolve. Winds ranged from 20 to 30 miles per hour, gusting to as high as 35 mph according to KCRG-TV9 Chief Meteorologist Joe Winters. Temperatures hovered around 50 degrees.

'I think one of my weakest parts of my game is mental,” Overton said. 'I pulled through today. I'm getting more confident with myself.”

She showed her resilience overcoming a rough six-hole stretch where she was 9-over par in a seven-hole stretch early. She regrouped, carding a 36 on the back nine.

Overton received a boost with a birdie on the par-3 No. 14 hole.

'I hit a pitching wedge in there and stuck it about two or three feet away from the hole,” Overton said. 'I came out with a birdie and it gave me confidence.”

Kennedy's Sierra Hargens finished second, shooting an 83. West teammates Jordan Amelon and Mackenzi Marsh were third and fourth with 84 and 90, respectively.

West had all four scorers place 12th or better, including Allye Boardman who tied for fifth with 91. Avery Kout added 101, giving West 366 and an improvement from last year's runner-up finish in this meet.

'I have four kids that any of them could play No. 1,” West Coach Mary Goodfellow said. 'That is a great thing for a coach to have, but the nice thing is they all want to play No. 1.”

Goodfellow said the West golfers push each other, vying to be the team leader. The competition among teammates makes the team better. They all respond to the task of capturing that top spot, which is held by Amelon for now.

'It's a friendly battle,” Goodfellow said. 'Whoever shot low the last time gets to play No. 1, so that's a good thing going.”

Cedar Rapids Xavier placed third with 393. Catie Locher and Amy Olberding led the Saints with 91 each.

CRANDIC INVITATIONAL

(At Ellis G.C., par 72)

Teams - 1. Iowa City West 366, 2. Iowa City High 391, 3. C.R. Xavier 393, 4. C.R. Kennedy 400, 5. C.R. Washington 419, 6. C.R. Prairie 425, 7. Marion 437, 8. Linn-Mar 449, 9. C.R. Jefferson 545

Top three individuals - 1. Sarah Overton (ICH), 81; 2. Sierra Hargens (CRK), 83; 3. Jordan Amelon (ICW), 84

Iowa City West (366): Amelon 84, Mackenzi Marsh 90, Allye Boradman 91, Avery Kout 101

Iowa City High (391): Overton 81, Sky Shield 95, Lexi Wichmann 105, Sam Blowers 110

C.R. Xavier (393): Amy Olberding 91, Catie Locher 91, Emily Schuff 104, Melanie Wertzberger 107

C.R. Kennedy (400): Hargens 83, Val Davidson 98, Nicole DeCoste 108, Katie Choate 111

C.R. Washington (419): Grace Claassen 101, Kandis O'Donnell 102, Brett Visser 108, Devon O'Donnell 108, Riley DeWolf 108

C.R. Prairie (425): Emily Machula 100, Peyton Staab 103, Kennedy Fisher 109, Lexi Poundstone 113

Marion (437): Taylor Wade 95, Carli Eichelberger 105, Skylar Dede 108, Anna Martinson 129

Linn-Mar (449): Kristen Harding 105, Megan Murphy 110, Alexa Mindrup 115, Danielle Gerlach 119

C.R. Jefferson (545): Emily Smith 119, Regan Grekoff 125, Jordan Henderson 147, Ciara Hammons 154

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