Prep golf notes: Cascade golfers look for third straight state appearance

Cascade's girls golf team has produced a strong start to the season.

Under first-year head coach Mike Merritt, the Cougars find themselves atop of the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association Class 2A team rankings after posting a 13-3 record before Thursday's competition in Davenport.

Cascade has reached the state tournament the last two years, winning the Tri-Rivers Conference both seasons. Merritt was optimistic replacing longtime coach Ginny Horsfield.

“I knew when Ginny retired we had four of the top six girls back,” Merritt said. “We knew we had a good nucleus. It was filling in that fifth and sixth spot with a real solid golfer to help out.”

The team has been solid with the top five Cougars averaging between in the mid- to high-40's for nine holes. Success depends on balance, which has provided support for bad shooting days for the top four returners.

“We are solid at our one through five,” Merritt said.

Senior Mackenzie Coyle and junior Aspen Lynch have led the way for the Cougars, averaging just over 46 per nine. Bridget Merritt, the coach's daughter, missed the opening of the season to commitments with the school's drama department, and is returning to form. All three have competed at the last two state meets.

“Mackenzie has been medalist in several meets,” Merritt said. “Aspen has shot as low as anybody.”

Katie Coyle, a sophomore, also has state meet experience. She has a nine-hole average just higher than 48. Michelle Gehl and Molly Seitz round out the top six.

Cascade started stronger in their opening two meets, missing the school's record-low at an away meet by one stroke. The Cougars were disappointed when they didn't maintain the low scores, according to Merritt. They have rebounded, and are motivated to reach a third straight state meet with a better finish than the last two.

“They know what it takes, Everybody has to be at their best,” said Merritt, noting the strength of traditional power Dyersville Beckman led by Ellie Ament and Stephanie Coghlan. “I think we can compete with anyone.”

Vikings second at future Ryder Cup course

Decorah's boys' golfers played a course that will host one of the sport's top events.

The Class 3A top-ranked Vikings finished second Monday in a 10-team tournament at Hazeltine Country Club in Chaska, Minn. Hazeltine will host the 2016 Ryder Cup. Decorah shot 310, three shots behind Chanhassen (Minn.) High School.

“We battled right up to the end with Chanhassen's team, and came up a little bit short,” Decorah Coach Rich Gaard said in a news release. “I thought our players played really well considering they had never played the course.”

Decorah's Nick Nelson finished third with a 75, three shots back of the medalist. Sam Lewey and Maynard Newhouse carded a 77 and 78, respectively, for the Vikings.

Lions shoot for 80s

Linn-Mar girls golf coach Steve Kahler has a good idea what it will take for the Lions to make a second straight Class 4A state golf meet appearance, Immediately after the Lions placed second behind Cedar Falls at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet on Monday at Ellis Park, Kahler determined what the balanced lineup would need to accomplish.

“All of our girls are capable of getting in the 80s,” said Kahler, whose No. 1 golfer Julie Pople shot 88 and No. 5 golfer Katie Harding added an 89. “To be successful and get to state, we've got to get four in there. We're not too far away.”

C.J. Davis carded a 92 and Danielle Toy, the team's No. 6 golfer, shot 93, helping the Lions shoot 362 and giving them a five-stroke lead over Dubuque Senior entering Monday's MVC Mississippi Division meet at Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City. The MVC Valley Division meet is at Bunker Hill in Dubuque.

The Lions, along with the rest of the 4A Metro teams and Iowa City West, travel to Ottumwa Country Club for a regional meet on May 21. Iowa City High will travel to Eldridge for a regional hosted by North Scott.