I.C. West freshman Ainsley Wilson takes Day 1 lead in girls’ state golf

IOWA CITY — Refuel. Range. Rest. Repeat.

Iowa City West freshman Ainsley Wilson had her routine planned between rounds of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state golf tournament.

“Just to make sure everything is good for tomorrow (Friday),” Wilson said.

Good will be great if Wilson’s second round mirrors her first. She fired 4-under 68 for the individual lead at the Class 4A state meet Thursday at Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City. Wilson leads Linn-Mar two-time defending state champion Morgan Rupp by one stroke and Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Kylie Wachtl by three, entering the final round.

Wilson had the benefit of playing well enough to be the frontrunner and identifying situations she can improve. Almost a perfect scenario.

“It’s nice to know I still could have done even better,” Wilson said. “I did play really well but there is opportunity to improve for tomorrow.”

Nerves impacted her at the start but dissipated as soon as she started to make longer birdie putts. She started to loosen up and played more aggressively, helping her performance.

Wilson made four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine, carding a 3-under 33. She had three birdies on the front for 35.

“I’ve played this course a lot so the goal is to shoot a score that I would consider really good for myself on this course,” Wilson said. “It’s nothing to really do with results. Just how I personally play.”

Mississippi Valley Conference players filled for of the top six spots after the opening round. Rupp, Wachtl and Cedar Rapids Washington’s 2023 state runner-up Jane Petersen was tied for sixth with 73.

Rupp was steady. She eagled No. 1 hole with birdies on the 13th and 15th greens. Rupp had just one bogey with 14 pars.

“Morgan’s round was honestly pretty ho-hum, besides the hole-out on No. 1 from 66 yards (her second hole) for eagle,” Linn-Mar Coach Chris James said. “While she didn’t make anything outside of five feet, she was able to hit lots of quality shots and put herself in good scoring positions. … I was happy with her demeanor all day and am excited to see her play well again tomorrow.”

In addition to the individual cluster in the 4A individual race, Cedar Rapids Washington was fifth in the team race, while Western Dubuque was sixth.

In 3A at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon, Cedar Rapids Xavier finished the first round in second with a 306 total, trailing Gilbert by one stroke. Mehar Julka is tied for fifth at even-par 72. Saints freshman Hayley Morris is seventh with 73. Teammates Evelyn Bern and Josie Kramer rounded out the scoring with 77 and 84, respectively.

Benton Community’s Halle Sobaski is ninth at 74. Lisbon and Williamsburg are tied for sixth with 335.

Central City’s Bretlyn Decker and Highland’s Emerson Schultz are in a three-way tie for first with Emmetsburg’s Calista Joyce. All three shot 6-over 77 at the American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown. The Huskies were in fourth with 368, one spot and one stroke ahead of East Buchanan. Easton Valley is in first with 344.

Oelwein is perched atop the individual and team race after one day of the 2A state tournament at Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Boone. The Huskies 325 as a team and lead second-place New Hampton by 12.

Oelwein’s Grace Lewis and Sumner-Fredericksburg’s Chloe Bolte are tied, carding even-par 72. Jesup’s Morgan Krall is fifth with 78.

Oelwein’s Hannah Patrick recorded 83, Grace Burg added 84 and Jaylynn Craun closed the team total with 86.

The second and last round for all four classes is set for Friday.