Washington’s Nacos wins state golf title

MARSHALLTOWN - Washington's Sarah Nacos is not your average freshman.

Nothing about her is average when she steps on the golf course, and she proved that Tuesday.

Nacos joined elite company, capturing the individual title and leading the Demons to a team championship at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Class 4A state golf meet Tuesday at American Legion Golf Course. She posted a total of 155, firing 77 in the second round, to become just the seventh freshman in state history to win a state crown.

After she holed out, she showed maturity and humility to go along with talent that are beyond her years, taking her accomplishment in stride as she stood on the edge of the 18th green applauding other members of her group as they finished.

'I was definitely more excited on the inside than the outside,” Nacos said. 'You always back away graciously. Someday the tables could be turned and you wouldn't want them doing that to you. Everyone else did a great job.”

Nacos praised her teammates and family, deflecting attention from her. She noted their efforts were instrumental of her reaching personal goals.

'They are so supportive of me,” Nacos said. 'I wouldn't be anywhere. I definitely wouldn't have won, if it wasn't for them. I am extremely grateful for them.”

From the start of the season, Nacos has been one of the state's top golfers this season. She capped it by becoming the first freshman champion since Charles City's Jessie Sindlinger in 2010. Age and grade don't matter to Nacos in competition.

'She is the real deal,” Washington Coach L.L. Kull said. 'She presents real problems for opposing teams. She is just so solid, determined and hard-nosed. She plays very well.

'The way she figures is she is here and she will do the best she can and hope it is good enough.”

She played excellent, topping Fairfield's runner-up Lindsey Repp by seven strokes. The pair entered the day tied at 78, which was seven shots ahead of the field.

Nacos tailed briefly after the third hole, but played steadily, going out at 39 and coming in at 38. The way she managed the greens helped keep her score down.

'My putting saved me on a lot of pars,” Nacos said. 'It helped a lot on places where I could have gotten bogeys. Those saved me.”

She nearly double her lead late, carding a birdie on the par-3 17th for the second straight day. Nacos reminded herself to finish strong as she move to the final hole, but could turn her attention to the future when it was complete.

Nacos is capable of becoming the IGHSAU's third four-time state golf champion, joining Sindlinger (2010-13) and Dubuque's Sharon Fladoos (1958-61).

'It's a confidence builder,” Nacos said of the title. 'If you come here and do it this year then maybe you can do it the next three years. You never know.”

The Demons claimed the program's third state title and first since consecutive championships in 2007 and 2008. Those optimistic feelings early in the season proved to be warranted.

'We started off well and gradually improved,” Kull said. 'I give credit to the young ladies. They played hard all year.”

Washington's Deanna Peiffer shot 176 and teammate Sarah Waite fired a 179. Brenna Burlingame added 188, giving the demons a 698 total. Humboldt was second at 722.

Kull said he was happy for this team, which is among one of the special ones he has had in 35 years of coaching.

'We're going to enjoy this,” Kull said. 'This day has been something we've shot for the last two-and-a-half months.”

The Class 3A state meet was also held at American Legion Golf Course. Dyersville Beckman posted the best round of the tournament, shooting 343 on the second day and winning the team title. The Blazers had an overall total of 706, eight shots better than first-round leader Atlantic. Beckman also won in 2012, placing second in 2013.

Brooke and Blair Klostermann led the way, shooting 152 and 162, respectively. Keri Wells added 190, while Courtney Scherbring and Jackie Olberding contributed to the title.

'That was awesome,” said Brooke Klostermann, who is a senior along with her twin sister, Wells and Scherbring. 'It means everything because four of us are seniors and this is the last time we are going to golf together.”

In her final tournament, Brooke Klostermann earned her second state runner-up finish, matching her performance as a freshman. She placed fourth last year and eighth as a sophomore.

Brooke Klostermann shot 75 and 77, tying Clear Lake's Emily Snelling for best two-round total. Snelling won a sudden-death playoff for the title.

'It was heartbreaking, because I'm a senior and lost in a playoff,” Brooke Klostermann said. 'I played really well this weekend and went out with a bang. There's nothing more I can ask for.”

Blair Klostermann placed fourth. She was also a four-time state qualifier, placing fourth in 2013 and 12th last year.

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