With the 2023 golf season nearing its end it was time for individual golfers and teams to compete for the privilege of participating in the upcoming State Golf Tournament. This was the Highland girls golf team’s goal when they battled against seven other teams in the Class 1A Region 5 golf meet on May 17. 

A chance to qualify for state was on the line at these Regionals taking place at the Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club and the top two teams would advance along with some top ranking individuals. 

Highland would finish third as a team with a final score of 404, just missing out on a top two finish that would have sent them to state. However, the top six golfers are also able to advance and Highland junior Kelsi Cerny would finish tied for fifth out of 50 golfers in the standings to punch an individual ticket to state. 

The top two scoring schools at this regional that will also be heading to state were New London and West Branch. New London claimed first place with a score of 371 and West Branch would finish as the runner-up with a score of 377. The golfer who earned medalist honors with their first place score of 87 was West Branch Junior Claire Jarrett. 

In this 18-hole meet Cerny would shoot a 92, a 20-over par. This was Cerny’s best 18-hole score of the season. Cerny will enter the state tournament with a nine-hole average of 51.17 and an 18-hole average of 102.25, both of her averages lead the team this year.  

Just missing the top ten would be the next top performer for Highland at this regional meet, freshman Adisyn Prottsman. Prottsman would finish in the double digits with a score of 99 to place 11th overall. Her best round in the 18-hole meets this year was a 95 and her best round after nine-holes played this year was a 52. 

Finishing in 21st and 22nd in the standings for Highland were sophomores Adeline Krotz and Danika Kraus. 

Krotz, who has a nine-hole average of 53.33 and an 18-hole average of 107.20 on the year, placed 21st with a score of 106. Kraus, who has a nine-hole average of 58.60 and an 18-hole average of 102.50 this season, placed 22nd with a score of 107.

Rounding out the scoring for Highland was freshman Emerson Schultz and senior Jenna Waters. Schultz entered a four-way tie for fourth place with a final score of 111. Waters would also finish in a tie with her final score of 122 but it would be a regular tie for 37th place. 

Next up for the Highland golf team will be Cerny traveling to the Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Ames to compete in the Class 1A state championship tournament, a two day event taking place on May 25-26.