CRANDIC girls’ golf meet has repeat winners: Medalist Addie Berg of Prairie and team champion Linn-Mar

MARION — Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Addie Berg provided an answer to her own question.

During practice Tuesday, she asked Hawks Coach Erik Columbus who was the last repeat winner of the CRANDIC girls’ golf meet. They may not have known then but they do now.

Berg fired a 2-over 74 to repeat as medalist at the CRANDIC meet Wednesday at Gardner Golf course after weather delayed the start by 75 minutes. Linn-Mar claimed consecutive crowns at the event, winning the team race with 338 and topping Cedar Rapids Xavier and Cedar Rapids Washington by seven.

The Prairie senior carded a birdie on the par-4 No. 14 hole and closed the round with a par on the 15th green to edge the Warriors’ runner-up Jane Petersen by one stroke.

“It’s kind of fun to win back-to-back,” Berg said. “This is a really cool tournament.

“We don’t really see a lot of these teams all at once, so it’s nice to play all the courses around Cedar Rapids (and Iowa City) with all these people.”

Berg has focused on two key components to her game since the previous CRANDIC win. She dedicated time to distance off the tee, making par-5 holes play shorter, which helped with a birdie on No. 16. Berg has worked on her short game and that helped play a consistent round with three birdies and 10 pars.

“Around the greens, there are always things to sharpen up,” Berg said. “That was probably my strength today. I didn’t hit a ton of greens but I made a lot of ups and downs, for the most part.”

Berg entered play with a 39.73 combined adjusted average, which takes into consideration the course’s rating. She posted a 33 at a nine-hole meet last week at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls. Berg, who tied for eighth at state last season, has her sights on scores in the red the final month of the season.

“I’d like to see myself under par more consistently,” Berg said. “I’ve done it once this year and that was a solid round I played. I’d like to see, as the year goes on, that I have more of those even-par rounds. I did that today. I was just 2-over. I’d like to find my way into the 60s at these par-72 courses.”

The field consisted of four players in the top 10 of Class 4A, including No. 2 Petersen and No. 6 Berg. Washington’s Mya Messenger is ranked seventh, while Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp is 10th. Xavier duo Mehar and Meera Julka are ranked fifth and eighth, respectively, in 3A. Rupp finished third, while Mehar Julka was fourth.

The Lions had a balanced effort. Rupp led the way with 77. Quinn Dunkle and Nina Mercure added 84 apiece and Ava Kline rounded out the scoring with a 93 for the Lions.

“Morgan played solid,” James said. “It’s fun for her to go head-to-head with some of the top players in the city, playing with Jane, who is playing well.

“Nina Mercure had her personal best round at a par-72 course. Quinn Dunkle played well on the front nine. So, there are a lot of good things. Overall, at this point, for our first 18-hole meet, we’ll take it.”

CRANDIC meet

At Gardner Golf Course (Par 72)

Teams — 1. Linn-Mar 338, 2. C.R. Xavier 345*, 3. C.R. Washington 345, 4. C.R. Prairie 367, 5. Iowa City Liberty 412, 6. Iowa City High 419, 7. C.R. Jefferson 440, 8. C.R. Kennedy 470, 9. Iowa City West 505, 10. Marion NS

Individuals — 1. Addie Berg (CRP), 74, 2. Jane Petersen (CRW), 75, 3. Morgan Rupp (LM), 77, 4. Mehar Julka 80, 5. (tie) May Messenger (CRW) and Lily Belle Barker (CRW), 82

Linn-Mar (338): Rupp 77, Quinn Dunkle 84, Nina Mercure 84, Ava Kline 93

Xavier (345): Julka 80, Meera Julka 84, Kyla Johnson 89, Jenna Kramer 92, Casey Gannon 93

Washington (345): Petersen 75, Messenger 82, Barker 82, Lydia Nichols 106, Hannah Hoer 106

Prairie (367): Berg 74, Cora Nunemaker 96, Kendal Erger 98, Morgan Burhans 99

Liberty (412): Claire Franzwa 91, Sydney Hested 100, Marqaux Maurus 108, Gracie Hennings 113

City High (419): Haleigh Nelson 103, Hannah Cronk 104, Abbie Fredericks 104, Tully Campion 108

Jefferson (440): Ava Erger 98, Kylee Thomas 99, Rachel Johnson 119, Kiyaree Cooper 124

Kennedy (470): Sydney Carlson 112, Brooklyn Gilchrist 114, Merideth Langton 116, Bella Devereux 128

West (470): Rylee DeSaulnier 122, Sophie Bodin 122, Gretchen Van Iddekinge 125, Finley Bevelaqua 136

Marion – Hayden May 113, Aubrey Olsen 115

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