Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp brings same approach to state golf meet: 2023 title is out of mind

The clutter corner of Morgan Rupp’s room displays her golf memorabilia.

Medals, trophies, golf balls from notable feats like her first eagle and various golf stands. The Linn-Mar junior had to make room for a large state title trophy and medal a year ago.

“Anything I get goes there,” Rupp said. “There are a couple shelves and medal stands. Whenever I look over, I think there’s no room for anything else. When I get stuff, I always make room. I feel like after every season I have to organize again and shift stuff around.”

The hope is to bring home some more hardware and make time for redecorating. Rupp will make her third straight appearance at the Class 4A state girls’ golf tournament at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. She will attempt to win a second straight individual title, starting Thursday morning and concluding Friday.

Rupp, who tied for fifth as a freshman, enters with the same approach as last season.

“I’m going in with no expectations and treating it like any other tournament,” Rupp said. “I’m just trying to shoot the best I can and adapt to the conditions in front of me.”

From the start of the season, Rupp and Linn-Mar Coach Chris James have rejected the idea of defending a title. The trek started over when this spring started and last year’s performance has no influence on these two rounds.

“This year, I feel I’ve been taking it one tournament at a time,” Rupp said. “Just trying to shoot the best score that I can on that course on that particular day. I’m not thinking about what I did or how I performed last year. I’m just focused on the present.”

Rupp has thrived with her short game and ability to scramble through a round. She hit the weights in the offseason, improving from added distance off the tee. The biggest upgrade has been mental for the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division Player of the Year, who ranks second or third in 4A in 18-hole averages and combined adjusted average.

The routine consists of concentrating on the shot, executing it, and then taking her mind off golf by talking to a coach, another player or thinking about something else before resetting for the next shot. It seems simple but can be difficult depending on the performance.

“I try to have the same level of emotion throughout the entire round, whether I hit a good or bad shot,” Rupp said. “Just have the same game face. Sometimes the way I present myself, you wouldn’t know if I was shooting really good or really bad. I do that to keep me calm.”

James emphasizes the mental side of golf, considering it the best way to distance yourself from the rest of a skilled field of competitors. Rupp has shown flashes of it in her career and it served her well last spring.

“I feel like there are lots of good golfers out there that can putt well or hit off the tee,” James said. “All those things that make you a good golfer but I think the mental part of it separates them. She’s had the mental toughness and being able to stay in the moment so well last year. Not thinking about where she’s at, how she’s doing or what other players are doing.”

James noted Rupp leads the Lions in “bounce-back birdies,” which is a team stat for birdies after a bogey or worse on the previous hole. She has also converted birdie putts at a very high rate, helping her average 73.86 per 18 holes and post a 38.45 combined adjusted average.

Interestingly, James said Rupp went under par for the first time on opening day at last year’s state meet. The dam was broken for numerous scores in the red and a fierce pursuit of shooting as low as possible.

“She has all the shots in the bag,” James said. “Hopefully, we’ve gotten to the point where she gets up to it, figures out what to do and hit it. It’s neat to hear she’s gotten to that point because it is hard. It’s probably the hardest thing for amateurs to master.”

Rupp closed the regular season on a tear. She shot under par in all three rounds of the major MVC meets — the Super Meet and both divisionals — and was regional medalist with a 1-under 72 at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames. The latest run has impressed James, but he said more gains can be made.

“It is the best golf I’ve seen her play,” James said. “But I also think she has a lot more left in her, which is exciting.”

Cedar Rapids Washington was last year’s state team runner-up and returns a strong team, including state runner-up Jane Peterson. Iowa City Liberty’s Bella Pettersen returns to state after a year hiatus. She placed third as a freshman and sophomore. Western Dubuque is a trophy contender in the team race led by McKenna Stackis.

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The team and individual fields are stacked. Rupp said she has played Otter Creek about 10 times and welcomes the challenge of the next two days.

“I really like Otter Creek,” Rupp said. “I feel like it suits my game well. I feel it’s pretty comparable to my home course at Hunters Ridge. I feel it’s a good thing.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com