Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Addie Berg claims CRANDIC title, ties course record

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Addie Berg received some good-natured ribbing from her teammates.

After a full day of golf and a memorable performance, she planned to return to the course for practice that was optional for varsity starters.

“My teammates were making fun of me because we don’t have to go to practice but I want to go,” Berg said. “I like to practice. I always feel like I need to do something more to get better.”

With that mentality, it is no surprise the returning state qualifier is among the top area golfers or that she now shares a record at her home course.

Berg fired a 2-under 61 to claim medalist honors at the CRANDIC girls’ golf meet Thursday at Airport National Golf Course. Linn-Mar won the team title with 310.

Berg’s round tied the course’s women’s 18-hole record set by Patricia Martinson in 1996. She didn’t realize her feat until Prairie Coach Erik Columbus informed her in the clubhouse.

“I was surprised,” Berg said. “I thought it would be lower. I’m pretty happy with the round I put together today.”

Extra effort has paid dividends for the all-Metro and all-Mississippi Valley Conference performer. The Hawks’ junior broke par for the second straight meet, firing 1-under Tuesday at Bunker Hill Golf Course in Dubuque.

“She’s an extremely hard worker,” Columbus said. “She deserves all the success she’s having.”

Columbus said Berg devotes a lot of time to her game and owns high expectations for herself. Even he chuckled at the notion of her coming back to the course just two hours after the tournament when she certainly earned a break for the afternoon.

“She’s always working to improve,” Columbus said. “It’s a prime example of her work ethic and drive to get better.”

A solid round of putting propelled Berg to a 6-stroke win over Linn-Mar’s runner-up Morgan Rupp. Berg tallied 31 putts for the round, resulting in four birdies and 12 pars.

Berg posted a 28 with all four birdies on the front, including three straight from hole Nos. 3 through 5. She had a birdie on the par-4 eighth.

“At the beginning of the round, I wasn’t really putting myself in position, but at the end of the round I was,” said Berg, noting that she avoided three-putts from previous rounds this spring. “I was making a lot of putts to save pars and by the end I was putting myself in position to make birdies.”

The Lions were led by Rupp, a freshman who shot 67. Abby Hoefle logged an 80, Ava Kline shot 81 and Nina Mercure added 82.

“The one thing we have this year is depth,” Linn-Mar Coach Chris James said. “Any of our top six can contribute. They do and they will.”

James praised the Lions for their dedication, wanting to play regardless of the conditions, which have been challenging at times.

“They want to get better,” James said. “They push each other and want to compete.”

Cedar Rapids Washington placed second with a team total of 319. Freshman Jane Petersen and sophomore Mya Messenger each shot 72 and tied for third to lead the Warriors. Mackenzie Parks and Lydia Jackson had 83 and 92, respectively, for Washington.

CRANDIC girls’ golf meet

At Airport National Golf Course

(Par 63)

Teams - 1. Linn-Mar 310, 2. C.R. Washington 319, 3. C.R. Prairie 334, 4. C.R. Kennedy 345, 5. C.R. Jefferson 363, 6. Iowa City West 364, 7. Iowa City High 371, 8. C.R. Xavier 389.

Individuals - 1. Addie Berg (CRP), 61, 2. Morgan Rupp (LM), 67, 3. (tie) Jane Petersen (CRW) and Mya Messenger (CRW), 72, 5. Meela Julka (CRX), 74.

LINN-MAR (310): Rupp 67, Abby Hoefle 80, Ava Kline 81, Nina Mercure 82.

WASHINGTON (319): Messenger 72, Petersen 72, Mackenzie Parks 83, Lydia Jackson 92.

PRAIRIE (334): Berg 61, Morgan Burhans 87, Yuewan Jennissen 90, Cora Nunemaker 96.

KENNEDY (345): Ella Stoltenberg 82, Leyla Grawe 87, Cora Johansen 87, Kirin Nguyen 89.

JEFFERSON (363): Kierra Thomas 82, Ava Erger 87, Kylee Thomas 93, Kiyaree Cooper 101.

I.C. WEST (364): Leigha Pacha 82, Anna Dreusicke 91, Tyesha Thompson 93, Cameron Reimers 98.

CITY HIGH (371): Haleigh Nelson 89, Annika Rutt 92, Olivia Knoche 94, Dani Moen 96.

C.R. XAVIER (389): Julka 74, Kyla Johnson 89, Anna Esker 102, Marissa Rushton 124.