Golf notes: Solon ranks among Class 3A leaders

SOLON – Solon boys’ golf coach Adam Stahle was cautiously optimistic for this season.

Like many coaches, he had questions about the impact of no 2020 season. Upperclassmen’s routines were disrupted. Underclassmen missed important experience. Stahle still recognized the Spartans’ potential.

“I know the kids that we had put in a lot of time on the golf course and usually that is a correlation to playing well, but until it happens you don’t really know,” Stahle said. “It’s been really fun to see these kids succeed. All the credit goes to them.”

Solon ranks among the Class 3A leaders in team scoring and has won seven of nine events, placing second or better in each, before Thursday’s meet at Tara Hills Country Club in Van Horne. The Spartans are 37-2 with two close finishes to 2A contender West Branch.

“Every one of these kids have worked their tail off,” Stahle said. “A number have put in time on the golf course in years past or getting into the weight room and everything that goes along with making a well-rounded athlete.”

The Spartans rank third in combined adjusted average (164.11) and 18-hole adjusted average (325.90), which factors in course difficulty. The combined adjusted average is good for sixth in all classes. They are second in 3A with 315.5 18-hole average.

Balance and good-natured competition have been key components to the strong season. The top four on the team are all within two strokes of scoring leader Frank Haege Jr.’s 77.25 18-hole average and less than three strokes in combined adjusted average.

Stetson McIlravy is second with a 78.33 average per round. Brothers, Jack and Mac McCarty, shoot 79 and 79.25 per 18, respectively. Lucas TePoel shoots in the mid-80s with Brennan Heesch and Nathan Miller rounding out the balanced lineup.

“It’s been rewarding to see everybody push each other and challenge,” Stahle said. “Some of the kids that aren’t far behind, aren’t far off from pushing those top four kids and they know that. … Things are still a battle. Kids aren’t satisfied. They want that next spot.”

Clash for the Club in Iowa City

The inaugural Iowa City Invitational, dubbed “Clash for the Club,” that features all four Iowa City high school girls’ golf programs was held Monday at Finkbine Golf Course. Iowa City Liberty claimed dibs on the travelling trophy, shooting 389 and topping runner-up Iowa City West by 31 strokes.

Bella Pettersen earned medalist honors for Liberty, firing 80. She was followed by senior teammate Neely Maurus, who carded an 86.

West’s Leigha Pacha and Ryleigh Goodfellow finished third and fourth, respectively.

The event is similar to other intracity trophy contests like the “Battle for the Boot” in football and volleyball’s “Battle for the Spike” between City High and West. City High and Liberty introduced the Titans Trophy last fall as part of their football rivalry.

Washington’s 1-2 punch

Washington, Iowa, boasts the top two Class 3A girls’ golfers in combined adjusted average. Seniors Kiki Bruner and Anna Nacos are first and second with a 38.72 and 39.17, respectively.

Both also rank among 3A’s best in all other scoring categories, sitting 1-2 in two more. Nacos is first in 18-hole adjusted average, while Bruner leads in 18-hole average.