Mid-Prairie’s Paige Slabaugh scores first career ace

Paige Slabaugh hit the best shot of her round.

The contact felt clean and the ball sailed to the elevated green on a good line. The Mid-Prairie sophomore and her group scanned the putting surface and scoured the rough for her ball. Then, Golden Hawks Coach Tracy McArtor made the exciting discovery.

Slabaugh's golf ball was at the bottom of the cup on Tipton Country Club's seventh hole. She carded her first career hole-in-one in Monday's dual against Tipton.

The hill prevented her from seeing it go in the hole, using an 8-iron from 101 yards.

'I was in tears,' Slabaugh said. 'It was awesome.'

Even though the team shot its lowest score of the season, McArtor described it as the 'evening's highlight.'

'I was lucky enough to be on that hole with her group when it happened and the look on her face and excitement was priceless,' McArtor wrote in an email report. 'She is still new enough to the game, I don't think she really realizes what an accomplishment having an 'ace' is.'

Slabaugh averages a little more than 55. The shot helped Slabaugh post her best round of the season, finishing with a 48.

'It was great for it to count for something,' Slabaugh said. 'The rest of the meet didn't go exactly as planned, but it helped it go better.'

Aces are rare in prep golf competition but have been done. Slabaugh said many didn't believe her at first. She said her mother's reaction was 'No way' during a phone call to share the news. Doubt turned to excitement quickly.

Slabaugh has had some good shots but had never come close to the pin with a tee shot. Well, until she did Monday.

'I've hit it on the green, but not anywhere within 10 feet of the hole,' Slabaugh said. 'It was pure shock, honestly. You always hear about it but then it never happens. It was great.'

MISSISSIPPI DIVISION STANDINGS

The strength of the Mississippi Valley Conference resides in the Valley Division. Six of the top seven teams and seven of the top 10 individuals from Monday's MVC Super Meet will compete in next Monday's divisional meet at The Meadows in Dubuque.

The Mississippi Division will conclude its play at Gardner Golf Course on Monday. Dubuque Hempstead has a commanding lead, shooting 349 in the Super Meet, which is 37 shots better than Iowa City High. The Little Hawks even have a 21-stroke lead over Cedar Rapids Washington, which was in third place after the first of two rounds with 407.

City High's Sarah Overton, the 2015 Mississippi Division Athlete of the Year, leads the individual race. She shot 81, leading Hempstead duo, Abby Teft and Tierney Dalsing, by two and three strokes, respectively.

LARSEN SETS SCHOOL MARK

West Delaware's Clayton Larsen set a nine-hole school record last week, shooting 5-under par 31 at Fawn Creek Country Club on April 29 in Anamosa. He followed that performance by claiming medalist honors at the Wamac Conference East Division meet, recording 33 at Dyersville Country Club on Monday.

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