Fore thought: Golf coaches’ changes allow MVC Super Meet to be played

DUBUQUE – Iowa City West Coach Mary Goodfellow was surprised any golf was played Monday.

Expected rain and storms threatened the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet at The Meadows Golf Club. So, before they took the course for the 16-team extravaganza, Goodfellow offered up a plan to salvage the event in case of a stoppage.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Julie Buerman helped implement the plan, reshuffling the groupings so divisional teams played the same holes until weather caused an interruption. The proactive approach allowed each program to play nine holes and kick off the three-round series to determine division champions and all-conference performers.

“It seemed like a nice plan to have in place,” Goodfellow said. “We just put all eight Mississippi Division teams together and went backwards. Then, we did the other side. It was good for everybody. You hate to prepare and drive up there and have it all not count.”

West tied Dubuque Hempstead for the top score among Valley Division teams, shooting 181 on the back nine. The Trojans’ Leigha Packa and Rylee Goodfellow posted the Valley’s two best scores, carding 41 and 42, respectively.

Cedar Rapids Washington’s Emma Sorg fired 1-under 35 on the front nine and Western Dubuque recorded a team total 175 for the Mississippi Division lead. The Bobcats edged the Warriors by just two strokes.

Interestingly, Goodfellow and Buerman drew from their vast experience to revisit an idea from a similar situation at Gates Park in Waterloo. It worked well when the round was terminated after about an hour delay. Every team finished at least nine holes.

“We had done that a couple years ago, but we actually got all 18 in that day,” Buerman said. “We weren’t able to today. It was going well until a big bolt of lightning hit about 1:15.”

Sorg carded three birdies, including one on the difficult par-5 ninth hole. She sits atop a field with 11 of the conference’s top-12 ranked golfers, according to Washington Coach Denny Goettel.

“She played great,” said Goettel, noting the strength of her foursome with Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Addie Berg, Iowa City Liberty’s Neely Maurus and Cedar Falls’ Amara Lytle. “It was a high-powered group. They were fun to watch.”

Lytle shot 36, Maurus shot 38 and Berg had 39.

Western Dubuque had all six players shoot 50 or better. McKenna Stackis led the Bobcats with 41, while Ella Kluesner shot 42. Hannah Fangmann and Gabi Fagerlind added 43 and 49, respectively.

West continues to show progress. Lucy Schmid and Marit McCaffery rounded out the team score with a 44 and 54.

“We’re coming on a bit,” Goodfellow said. “It’s at a good time.”

Divisional meets are next Monday. Kennedy is hosting the Valley at Twin Pines. The Mississippi is competing at Bunker Hill in Dubuque.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE SUPER MEET

At Dubuque

(The Meadows Golf Club, par 36)

MISSISSIPPI DIVISION LEADERS

Teams – 1. Western Dubuque 175, 2. C.R. Washington 177, 3. (tie) Cedar Falls and Iowa City Liberty 179, 5. Dubuque Wahlert 184, 6. C.R. Prairie 191, 7. Linn-Mar 195, 8. Iowa City High 221

Individuals – 1. Emma Sorg (CRW), 35, 2. Amara Lytle (CF), 36, 3. (tie) Neely Maurus (ICL), Bella Pettersen (ICL), Tatum Depuydt (LM), 38

C.R. WASHINGTON (177): Sorg 35, Mya Messenger 47, Blythe Heying 47, Mackenzie Parks 48

I.C. LIBERTY (179): Maurus 38, Pettersen 38, Brianna Butterfield 48, Alison Colony 55

C.R. PRAIRIE (191): Addie Berg 39, Julianne Hodges 48, Yuewan Jennissen 51, Jillian Thies 53

LINN-MAR (195): Depuydt 38, Abby Hoefle 44, Ava Kline 56, Gabby Mercure 57

CITY HIGH (221): Annika Rutt 51, Anna Knoche 55, Allison Ribble 57, Lauryn Varo 58, Dani Moen 58

VALLEY DIVISION LEADERS

Teams – 1. (tie) Iowa City West and Dubuque Hempstead 181, 3. Dubuque Senior 197, 4. C.R. Kennedy 199, 5. C.R. Jefferson 203, 6. Waterloo West 210, 7. C.R. Xavier 215, 8. Waterloo East NS

Individuals – 1. Leigha Packa (ICW), 41, 2. Rylee Goodfellow (ICW), 42, 3. Morgan Hawkins (ICW), 43, 4. (tie) Annika Neumann (DH), Lucy Schmid (ICW), 44

I.C. WEST (181): Packa 41, Goodfellow 42, Schmid 44, Marit McCaffery 54

C.R. KENNEDY (199): Leyla Grawe 47, Kirin Nguyen 48, Alleah Hilgendorf 49, Cora Johansen 55, Addison Swartzendruber 55

C.R. JEFFERSON (203): Kierra Thomas 47, Kylee Thomas 51, Rhianna Briney 52, Anna Warkel 53

C.R. XAVIER (215): Kaitlin Hotchkiss 45, Meera Julka 47, Kyla Johnson 61, Casey Gannon 62