Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Hayley Morris, Cedar Rapids Washington’s Shaylin Munson leading girls’ open division of Rotary Pribyl golf event

MARION – Cedar Rapids Washington’s Shaylin Munson and Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Hayley Morris are coming off successful springs.

During the high school season, both helped their respective teams place fourth at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state tournament – the Warriors in Class 5A and Saints in 4A. Morris also produced a sixth-place finish, individually.

They have dedicated time to their golf games and are the top-two in the girls’ open division after the second round of the Rotary Pribyl. Morris carded 2-over 74 and Munson shot 78 on Wednesday at Hunters Ridge. Morris has a total of 157, leading Munson by six entering Thursday’s final round at Elmcrest Country.

“The Pribyl is always one of my favorite tournaments of the year,” Munson said. “I look forward to playing it. It's great to see some familiar faces that I play during the school year and then get to play with them and get a little bit closer to them outside of the school year.”

Full Pribyl golf results

The event allows high school and junior high players compete in open and novice divisions. Both girl groups and boys’ novice play three rounds, while boys’ open consists of four. Pribyl meshes a chance to learn and improve against talented players and on top area courses.

“I think the way Cedar Rapids puts this on, they do a great job running it,” Morris said. “It's just nice.

“You play two country clubs that are in the city, which is amazing, and then you play this course (Hunters), which is in really good condition.”

Munson, who will be a junior at Washington this fall, has continued to work on her golf game. She has spent time on the range and the practice green. Munson has also spent the summer, reclaiming her tennis game with the sport moving to a fall varsity season.

Munson chose golf over tennis as a freshman. She will return to the courts with the sports are in different seasons.

“I had done summer and winter lessons all throughout, going into freshman year,” said Munson, who is a former basketball player. “Then, I had to really make that decision. Do I want a double sport … or do I want to just help out the golf team as much as they can? So, I decided to stick to golf, but now I'm really excited to do both again. Hopefully, make varsity for tennis as well.”

Morris said she has played in a lot of summer tournaments and practiced daily. The offseason competitions are on bigger courses than high school, and she enjoys being able to use longer clubs.

“You have to improve slowly,” Morris said. “Like my dad says, one percent better every single day. You just have to keep practicing and keep getting better. It’s great they have so many opportunities for juniors.”

Both are strong hitters, being able to tee off well over 200 yards. Washington Coach Dennis Goettel, who is a key Pribyl organizer, said Munson is one of the Warriors’ longest hitters. Putting has been a key focus for both. The old “Drive for show, putt for dough” saying fits.

They putted well Wednesday. Munson was thrilled with a pair of one-putts and only 16 putts, shooting 40 on the front nine and adding 38 on the back with a birdie putt on No. 17 hole.

“I've definitely been working more on the green than on the range,” said Munson, who also birdied the par-5 No. 6 hole. “Just to limit those high numbers.”

Morris had a birdie on the par-4 third hole for a 38 on the front. She was even more efficient, recording even par 36 after the turn thanks to birdies on the 15th and 18th holes. Morris noted she closed the round with about a 50-foot putt and said she made a couple more 30-foot putts.

“My putting was phenomenal on the back,” Morris said. “When I try to get one percent better every day, it's usually on my putting.

“Last year, I struggled a lot with my putting. My strength was my driver. I could smash it 280 yards and then I would four-putt. But now I just have to focus on getting it close and making a par.”

Morris’ dad, Jared Morris, is a former Pribyl champion. The younger Morris is motivated to match her dad’s feat, opting to play the Pribyl over a larger event.

My dad won it when he was my age,” Morris said. “I am just going to play in it until I win. I'm missing the Iowa women’s amateur. I kind of wanted to play in that, but this is really important, too.”

Munson’s summer golf is winding down, despite a couple home course contests and maybe a Junior PGA event. The Pribyl marks the last big tournament of the season before tennis consumes most of her athletics time. She is also looking for her best finish.

“Every year I go up one place,” Munson said. “I've played in this for three or four years now. Even placing second, I wouldn't be upset at all. To win would be amazing, but I'm happy with the second place too, playing against (and) competing with Hayley Morris. She's a great friend of mine. She's a great golfer. She’s strong off the tee and can finish around the hole really well.

“I would love to see her win, but I'd also love to take home a trophy, too.”

In the boys’ open, Cedar Rapids Prairie junior Henry Sobaski stormed through the field with a 1-under 71 Wednesday. He has a three-round total of 217, one ahead of Xavier freshman Harrison Hartke, who shot 78 at Hunters for a total of 218. Linn-Mar’s Christian Cloyd is third at 221.

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