Kennedy’s Sierra Hargens earns runner-up finish at loaded MVC girls’ golf meet

IOWA CITY — The field was tough. The course was tougher.

You earn anything you accomplish at the Mississippi Valley Conference competition, featuring nine of the top-10 individual finishers from a year ago. Four of the top-eight scoring teams in Class 5A reside in the 14-team conference.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Sierra Hargens improved from a year ago, shooting 1-over 73 and placing second at the MVC Super Meet on Monday at Pleasant Valley Golf Course. Dubuque Senior's Maddie Hawkins fired 72 for her second straight MVC title, overcoming wet conditions on a day that turned overcast and chilly.

Tough competition pushes Hargens each round.

'Competition is pretty stiff,' Hargens said. 'I feel everybody's getting better each year. I'm trying really hard.'

Hargens carded the only nine-hole score under par. She shot a 2-under 34 on the back nine, starting on the 13th hole and notching two birdies in her first four holes. She estimated each was a 15-foot putt.

'I started out really strong,' said Hargens, an Indiana State commit. 'My putter was good starting off. The middle of the round was on the front nine and I was leaving some short with my putter. If you can get your putter working, you can get away with a lot.'

Hargens closed with a birdie on the par-5 No. 11.

She appeared reserved after the awards ceremony. It was the second straight week she missed medalist honors by one stroke. She still has a chance for a divisional title next week.

'I think she is still very excited about how well she did and how well she's doing,' Kennedy Coach Julie Buerman said. The Cougars were fifth with 362. 'We know we still have next week, so hopefully next week we can make up that stroke.'

Iowa City West finished fourth in the team race with 352. Cedar Falls captured its second straight Super Meet title with 335, handing Dubuque Senior its first setback of the season. The Rams were second with 344, which was five more than Dubuque Hempstead.

The Women of Troy had two golfers finish in the top five. Jordan Amelon led West with 78, scoring three birdies. Amelon came in under par on holes No. 3 and 5 for a 1-over 37 on the front. Mackenzi Marsh tied for fifth with 81. Avery Kout added 88, while Andrea Morgan (105) rounded out the scoring for West.

'I think anything under 90 was fine,' West Coach Mary Goodfellow said. 'It was wet and icky. The grass was really long.

'Those are three really good scores. We'll even take our fourth score.'

Six of the top seven teams in the Super Meet are in the Valley Division. Seven of the top 10 individuals are also in the Valley. The MVC, as a whole, has a talented crop of players.

'That is a strong class of golfers,' Goodfellow said. 'Several of them will play in college. That's kind of exciting.'

Joining Marsh in a three-way tie for fifth was Iowa City High's Sarah Overton, who was the runner-up by just one shot behind Hawkins last year.

Overton carded two birdies, shooting 2-over 38 on the back nine.

The MVC Super Meet serves as the first of two rounds of divisional play. The second round is set for next Monday.

The Mississippi Division plays its final round at Gardner Golf Course. The Valley Division competes at The Meadows Golf Course in Dubuque.

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