Demons demolish field by103 strokes

KEOKUK — Even though it was a wet day on a soggy golf course, the Washington girls golf team scorched the other participants Thursday in an 18-hole tournament at the Elks Golf Course.

The Demon girls put together a remarkable 18-hole team score of 304. They burned the five-team competition with second-place Mount Pleasant shooting a 407. The home team Chiefs posted a 432 for third. Burlington was fourth at 444, then Fairfield at 463.

Washington had the top four scores and another tied for sixth with the highest score 11th. Kiki Bruner was meet medalist with an even-par 74, shooting 38 on her first nine and 36 on her back nine holes. Anna Nacos carded a 40 and a 36 for a 76 which was matched by Makenna Conrad’s 37-39 — 76 for runner-up. Josie Tanner’s score was 38-40 — 78, Katelyn Long 41-44 — 85, and Alicia Golf 51-51 — 102.

The scores were all the more remarkable considering the course condition. Because the course was soggy, the fairways had not been mowed. Bruner told her coach she couldn’t tell if she was in the rough or in the fairway.

The Demons took it all in stride and were “comfortable,” regardless of a shot’s result. “Just anything, and the girls were just so matter-of-fact,” Kull said. “I don’t remember seeing four scores on one team in the 70s. These girls were hitting plugged shots from 75 yards out and landing them on the green.“

The Demons have time to better those Thursday scores with lots of practice because the next meet is April 19 at Ottumwa.

Mt. Pleasant’s Elli Liechty shot 51-50 — 103, Sammi Wibben 51-46 — 97, Ryann Davidson 50-49 — 99, Kylie Walderbach 53-55 — 108.

Fairfield’s Viola Walsh scored 53-54 — 107, Mayah Twohill 55-49 — 104, Kate Pettit 69-64 — 133, Maggie Rayburn 72-61 — 132, Macy Rayburn 61-61 — 122, Sarah Kretz 71-61 — 130.

Burlington’s Lauren Briggs was fifth at 82 and Burlington’s next best was Izzy Taylor at 99. Keokuk’s best was Natalie Ames at 85, then a 113.

“The girls were just so matter-of-fact in the way they treated the weather, the day, and the scores,” Kull said. “One of them said, ’I didn’t hit the ball well but had a good score,’ and I told her of the days you hit well and have a bad score.”

The success has changed the coach’s plans on how to go forward.

“It’s just too early to be talking about how good we are with lots of good teams out there,” he said.

“How success is handled is as important as how failure is handled,” Kull said. “We need to stay under the radar and just keep improving. It’s hard to single out anyone because everybody was just solid.”