Iowa City West’s Ainsley Wilson claims CRANDIC girls’ golf meet medalist honors

CEDAR RAPIDS – Iowa City West Coach Mary Goodfellow when she first met Ainsley Wilson.

She was with her team at Finkbine Golf Course for practice, noticing a sixth-grader playing every day, regardless of the conditions. Goodfellow had to meet someone that displayed a drive and passion at such a young age.

“After a couple weeks, I’m like ‘Who is that girl?’ I cannot believe she’s out there all the time,” Goodfellow said. “So, I went out and introduced myself.”

Wilson recalled the first meeting.

“You chased me,” Wilson said to Goodfellow with a laugh.

Goodfellow recognized the talent then and now Wilson is making an immediate impact as a freshman at West. Wilson fired a 4-under 69 to claim medalist honors at the annual CRANDIC girls’ golf meet Wednesday at Twin Pines Golf Course. Cedar Rapids Washington captured the team title with 321, while Cedar Rapids Xavier was second at 334, only four strokes ahead of third-place West.

Wilson is second in the state with a 37.48 combined adjusted average and broke 70 in her first varsity 18-hole event.

“The conditions weren't very good but I think I played pretty well,” Wilson said. “I was kind of surprised because I didn't warm up very good and I didn't start great either.

“I sort of got on a roll. I had an eagle, which was good today, and then I had a birdie. I kind of like got settled and I started playing well.”

Wilson started on hole No. 14, carding the first of three birdies on the 18 th hole. Wilson had the eagle and birdie on holes No. 2 and 3.

A good drive placed her about 200 yards out and her second shot with a wood rolled within 10 feet of the cup. She was aggressive, knowing a two-putt would keep her under par.

“I just hit it a little firm and it went in,” Wilson said. “So, it was a good putt.”

Wilson moved from Oregon to Iowa City in sixth grade. She lived on a par-3 course in Oregon and developed her love for the game there, playing regularly as early as 7 or 8 years old.

“I did all the sports but I really started playing every day during COVID, because all the other sports stopped,” Wilson said. “I would say midway through COVID is when I started traveling out-of-state to play tournaments.

“We moved to Iowa, like three years ago, so around then is when I realized this what I really want to do and I want to play in college.”

Wilson played in various tournaments on the west coast as youth. She has played in Louisiana and at Pine Hurst, N.C. Goodfellow has followed her feats during the summer. She was excited for Wilson to practice with the Trojans in eighth grade.

“She’s a once-in-a-lifetime player to have around,” Goodfellow said.

Interestingly, Wilson battled jitters in the season-opening Mississippi Valley Conference quadrangular at Dubuque Golf and Country Club on April 8. Goodfellow said it was neat for Wilson to be so concerned about the team success.

“I feel like it's hard when you first start high school golf because you're not used to playing on a team,” Wilson said. “You kind of feel a lot of pressure to play good because other people are relying on you. But you also just have to realize like you're doing this for fun and you just want to have a good time with your team.

“I settled in that first meet. I’ve been playing well since that first meet.”

Wilson has established herself among talented players in the area. She finished five strokes ahead of Washington senior Jane Petersen, Xavier’s Hayley Morris and Linn-Mar two-time state champion Morgan Rupp. Wilson hasn’t been intimidated by older players and welcomes the challenge.

“I've played with them a lot in Iowa PGA tournaments before, so I understood that it would be hard to win stuff but I also know that we're all really good golfers. It's great to be competitive.

“It's just been really fun, having people to play against that are good.”

Wilson recorded 13 pars and just one bogey, despite a wet course and windy conditions. Her ability to stay even-keel through a round feeds her success.

“I would say it is my consistency overall,” Wilson said. “I only made one bogey today, and I didn't feel like I was in danger of having a bad hole. … I don't have many blow-up holes or anything like that.”

Goodfellow said Wilson plays well beyond her years. She’s bonding well with her teammates and has even helped push them.

“We’ve been waiting a long time to get her,” Goodfellow said. “We’ve had this team that loved golf but are beginners. That’s hard.

“Today was the first day they all broke 100. A couple broke 90 and then Ainsley, of course.”

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Runner-up Petersen led the Warriors with 74. Lily Belle Barker was fifth at 75, while Shaylin Munson and Kate Newlin rounded out the Washington score with 80 and 92, respectively.

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In addition to Morris, Mehar Julka posted 78 for the runner-up Saints. Josie Kramer and Evelyn Bern added 90 and 92 for Xavier.

CRANDIC MEET

At Twin Pines Golf Course

(Par 73)

Teams – 1. C.R. Washington 321, 2. C.R. Xavier 334, 3. Iowa City West 338, 4. Linn-Mar 360, 5. Iowa City Liberty 374, 6. C.R. Kennedy 383, 7. C.R. Prairie 395, 8. Iowa City High 418, 9. Marion 449, 10. C.R. Jefferson 474.

Individuals – 1. Ainsley Wilson (ICW), 69, 2. Jane Petersen (CRW), 74, 3. Hayley Morris (CRX), 74, 4. Morgan Rupp (LM), 74, 5. Lily Belle Barker (CRW), 75.

WASHINGTON (321): Petersen 74, Barker 75, Shaylin Munson 80, Kate Newlin 92

XAVIER (334): Morris 74, Mehar Julka 80, Josie Kramer 90, Evelyn Bern 92

I.C. WEST (338): Wilson 69, Lily Schmid 82, Sophie Bodin 93, Gretchen Van IddeKinge 94

LINN-MAR (360): Rupp 74, Clara Haker 93, Reese Roberts 96, Adalynne Girdner 97

I.C. LIBERTY (374): Lila Bowman 84, Layla Langseth 93, Claire Franzwa 97, Hayzel Wernimont 100

C.R. KENNEDY (383): Elle Nurre 83, Harper Homewood 95, Brooklyn Gilchrist 95, Bella Devereux 110

C.R. PRAIRIE (395): Kylie Wachtl 75, Kate Walker 104, Norah Palmer 107, Macey Burns 109

CITY HIGH (418): Emory Anzelc 102, Kacy Khongmaly 105, Hadassah Wolcott 105, Tess Anzelc 106

MARION (449): Isabella Aguilar-Lingo 110, Tillie Cahalan 111, Taryn Oelmann 111, Kyla Benke 117

C.R. JEFFERSON (474): Ava Erger 90, Rachel Johnson 106, Peyton Kinrade 118, Jenna Dodson 160

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