Halle Sobaski, Benton Community place 2nd to send entire team to Class 3A state girls golf meet

MANCHESTER – Benton Community’s Halle Sobaski is returning to the state tournament.

She’s going to have company on the course this time.

Sobaski carded a 5-over 76 for runner-up medalist honors, helping the Bobcats to a second-place finish at the Class 3A high school girls’ golf regional Wednesday at Pin Oak Links. Sobaski earned a second consecutive state berth, finishing one shot behind Dubuque Wahlert’s Elin Mueller. Benton joins team champion Golden Eagles at the state meet May 29-30 at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon.

“I think it'll be fun because last year I did pretty well,” Sobaski said. “I'm just excited to see if I could do better (but) I’m really excited that it’s as a team now.

“I really love having my teammates around me. They just help support me and build me up. I love encouraging them to do their best.”

Sobaski placed sixth last year as a freshman. Her teammates were spectators, following her and cheering her on in person. Benton Coach Travis Dirks said the teammate declared they were all going to be in the field with Halle next time. Wednesday, those aspirations became a realization. The Bobcats earned the second team state berth in school history.

“They worked their tails off during the summer and this season,” Dirks said. “I couldn’t be prouder of them as a whole. Every one of them takes it personal. They're in it for each other. It's not an individual game to any of them. They see it as a team sport.”

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Sobaski opened the round with two straight birdies, posting a 1-over 36 on the front. She gave herself a shot at a tie on the No. 18 green by almost making a birdie putt. Sobaski remained consistent and confident through the ups and downs of golf. A lesson learned at state, climb from 16 th to sixth from Day 1 to Day 2.

“I had a good start (Wednesday),” Sobaski said. “Then, I had a few rough holes, but I was just able to keep my emotions in check and not get upset with myself. Being calm helped me stay mellow throughout the entire round.”

The cold, overcast and wet conditions actually played to one of her strengths. The soft and slower greens allowed her to aim for the holes on her approach.

“They were sticking a lot better,” Sobaski said. “I always pin seek. I never go for the middle of the green, which is kind of bad. I probably should, but I that's what works best for me normally.”

Sobaski’s skill on the course is matched by her toughness. Dirks recalled Sobaski breaking her foot a month before last season and only watching practice. She was in a walking boot until the day before the first tournament, shedding it and playing a couple of holes. Sobaski showed up the next day, took off the boot and played an 18-hole round.

“I share that story and I don't know how many other competitors, no matter what sport, would have been on their field of play a month after breaking their foot,” Dirks said. “Being able to get past that and actually do it was amazing. I was not expecting to have her for the first half of the season last year, but she fought through every single bit of it.”

Sobaski had a brace on her foot at this time last year. She overcame it to still earn all-state honors.

“I am a lot better,” Sobaski said. “I still have limited range of motion with it because it's very stiff and it gets swollen after walking 18 holes.”

Sobaski is one of 3A’s top golfers, entering the postseason with an 18-hole low of 69, 73.14 average and a 39.69 combined adjusted average. Dirks said Sobaski has been a special player since the first time he saw her at a golf camp when she was in junior high. Sobaski has continued to improve.

“She puts in the work and the time,” Dirks said. “There's not a day off for Hallie. She's hitting golf balls all the time. She's a fierce competitor.

“Finishing second to her is like finishing last. She expects a lot out of herself. She is just what you want in an athlete and competitor. She lays it all out on the line each and every time.”

Benton’s Madelyn Kenny finished fifth with an 85. Hailey Suiter and Avery Kramer rounded out the Bobcats’ 360 team score. Wahlert won with 341. West Delaware’s Susie Funke also shot 85, claiming the final individual state berth.

The Bobcats will also be cashing in on a bet from the first day of practice. Dirks has a date with the pond at their home course, agreeing to jump in if they made it to state. He doesn’t plan to back out of the deal.

“Without batting an eye, I said, ‘of course,’” Dirks said with a laugh. “So, now, I get to go and they get to see what Coach Dirks can do, swimming across the pond.”

The attention turns to Saddleback Ridge, a course the Bobcats have played multiple times. Sobaski set a personal record at the course, shooting 2-under there April 29. She anticipates some low scores and hopes to better last season’s finish, but the team accomplishment is just as thrilling to her.

“I’ve done pretty well at Saddleback,” Sobaski said. “I’m going to be happy that we made it there as a team I'm just so proud of these girls. They've done so much. They've worked their butts off for where they're at now.”

IGHSAU CLASS 3A REGIONAL

At Manchester

(Pin Oak Links, par 71)

Teams - 1. Dubuque Wahlert 341*, 2. Benton Community 360*, 3. West Delaware 366, 4. Waverly-Shell Rock 481, 5. Central DeWitt 406, 6. Charles City 411, 7. Independence 422, 8. Marion 428, 9. Decorah 430, 10. Davenport Assumption 445

Individual state qualifiers - 1. Elin Mueller (DW), 75, 2. Halle Sobaski (BC), 76, 3. Mady Mummelthel (WSR), 82, 4. Sophia Thier (DW), 83, 5. Madelyn Kenny (BC), 85**, 6. Susie Funke (WD), 85

* - Team state qualifiers

** - Won cardback tiebreaker.

MARION (428): Tillie Cahalan 99, Taryn Oelmann 102, Landri Albers 112, Kyla Benke 115

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