MVC girls’ golf roundup: Prairie’s Addie Berg, Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp are 2023 players of the year

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Addie Berg captured what eluded her the last two seasons.

This time, her performance was sufficient to earn top honors.

Berg tied for fourth with a 79 at the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division meet Monday at Twin Pines Golf Course. The effort was good enough for a three-round total of 235, earning MVC Mississippi Player of the Year honors.

“I’m pretty excited,” Berg said. “It was nice to put together three semi-good rounds and it was enough to get up there. It’s cool to be able to say you won conference once time, even though it’s not the biggest deal. It’s a fun little thing, so I’m pretty happy about it.”

Berg added to her resume that includes an eighth-place finish at the 2022 Class 4A state meet, first-team all-conference honors and back-to-back CRANDIC titles.

“Just another feather in her cap I guess,” Prairie Coach Erik Columbus said. “She’s earned all her success. Hopefully, that continues into the postseason.

“She’s one of the hardest workers at Prairie that I’ve had the pleasure to coach.”

Dubuque Wahlert’s Ava Kalb was medalist of the second divisional and final round of conference competition. She shot 75, topping runner-up medalists Meera Julka, of Cedar Rapids Xavier, and Wahlert’s Katelyn Vaassen by three. Xavier’s Mehar Julka and Cedar Falls’ Molly Ratchford matched Berg to tie for fourth.

“I didn’t have my best stuff today,” Berg said. “It was nice to see even when I don’t that I can still put together something that is semi-competitive. I wouldn’t say I was hitting the ball well today, which is something I’m pretty strong at.”

Wahlert posted a 319 team total to win the team title Monday and finish its conference championship with 997. Xavier was second in the divisional and overall, recording scores of 334 and 1,038.

Prairie placed fourth as a team with 355, putting the Hawks within striking distance of Cedar Falls, which hosts their state qualifier Wednesday.

Berg said she will look to improve her game to flirt with par or better and attempt to help her team reach next week’s state tournament.

“She has pretty high goals,” Columbus said. “Our team also has pretty high goals, too.”

Xavier’s Meera and Mehar Julka obtained first-team all-conference honors. Mehar ended with 243 total, while Meera had 247. The Saints host a 3A regional at Twin Pines on Wednesday.

Linn-Mar wins MVC Valley

Linn-Mar swept the top honors at the MVC Valley Division golf meet Monday at Gardner Golf Course. The Lions fired 339, edging host Cedar Rapids Washington by two, and capping a conference championship with a three-round total of 984.

Linn-Mar sophomore Morgan Rupp carded a 78, tying for second and taking MVC Valley Player of the Year honors with a three-round score of 223.

Western Dubuque’s McKenna Stackis carded a 74 for divisional medalist honors and earned first-team all-conference honors.

Washington’s Jane Petersen tied Rupp for runner-up accolades and was third overall at 230. Warrior teammate Mya Messenger shot 81 Monday and was second with 228 over three rounds.

Linn-Mar’s Quinn Dunkle and Ava Kline, Washington’s Lily Belle Barker and Western Dubuque’s Cece Ball also earned first-team all-conference honors.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com