The Mid-Prairie girls shot a season-low score of 220 in a triangular on Tuesday, and then finished just three strokes out of fifth place in the River Valley Conference meet the next day. 

Mid-Prairie and Tipton tied for seventh in the RVC meet with 458 strokes, and the Golden Hawks won the tiebreaker to finish in the top half of the league at the Muscatine Municipal Golf Course. 

“The girls really shined for being the first time any one of them had played (in a conference meet),” Mid-Prairie coach Tracy McArtor said. “The kids are really getting used to tournament play and the competition and I think the nervousness is wearing off a little sooner each time we hit the links. They are getting some great experiences under their belt that will really come in handy at Regionals next week and also as a stepping stone for next year. We still have some things to work on, but the girls are doing a great job.”

Madi Davidson was steady with rounds of 56 and 55 to lead the Golden Hawks. She missed all-conference honorable mention by just two strokes, finishing with 111 total. Madelyn Bender shot a 53 on the front nine and finished just one stroke back at 112. 

Alexa Huber shot 59 and 56 to finish with 115 and Gabi Robertson rounded out the scoring with a total of 120. Elliott Debler’s 130 gave Mid-Prairie the tiebreaker, as she finished 16 strokes ahead of Tipton’s fifth-best scorer. Claire Zirkelbach shot a 63 on the back nine to finish with 133. 

Monticello’s Dru Kramer and Tipton’s Alli Nash pulled away from the field to earn medalist and runner-up medalist honors with scores of 85 and 87, respectively. West Branch’s Savannah Sexton and Anamosa’s Madeline Nemmers were the only other golfers to break 100. 

Monticello easily won the RVC title with 398 strokes, while Anamosa edged West Branch by a stroke to finish second with 418.  

M-P finishes second

Mid-Prairie finished just nine strokes behind West Branch in Tuesday’s triangular, led by Robertson. The second place Golden Hawks were 38 strokes ahead of West Liberty.

“This was a new season-low team score for the girls at 220 strokes and a new personal best for team medalist Gabi Robertson with 52,” Mid-Prairie coach Tracy McArtor said.  

“The kids played well here at home after the weekend layoff and the meet getting pushed back a day due to rain on Monday.  

Alexa Huber carded a 54 and Madelyn Bender was one stroke back with 55. Elliot Debler and Madi Davidson each shot a 59. Madison Witthoft had a score of 64 and Claire Zirkelbach finished with 81. 

“A little rusty to start the day by everyone, but they settled in and finished strong,” McArtor said. “Things are going in the right direction and the girls are getting more confident.”

Edged by one stroke

On Monday, the Mid-Prairie girls finished just one stroke behind Durant in a 221-222 loss at the Kalona Golf Course. 

“Durant is a good team that we’ve seen a couple times this year and not shot better than them, so to come out and give them a good run and only get beat by a single stroke is great,” Mid-Prairie coach Tracy McArtor said. “Amazing how it can come down to that one shot that wins or loses a meet, but a good learning experience for the girls to see that saving a single shot here or there during the round is all it takes.” 

Junior Madelyn Bender was the runner-up medalist with a score of 51. Freshman Madi Davidson carded a 53 and  Alexa Huber followed with 56. 

“Madelyn and Madi played well together today with Madi posting a season-low 53 today that included a 10 on her card,” McArtor said. 

Gabi Robertson shot a 62, Elliott Debler had 66, Madison Witthoft carded a 66 and Claire Zirkelbach finished with 71.