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Washington, Welsh are state bound
Demon girls golf dominates as a team, Fairfield senior qualifies for first time
OSKALOOSA — As the scores rolled in at Edmundson Golf Course in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, one thing was becoming increasingly clear. Nothing is slowing the Demons down.
Washington rolled to yet another state qualification, shooting 339 to win the regional championship by 13 strokes, earning one of two team tickets.
The Demons were led by Kaylin Long, who shot 79 to take second place individually on the day.
“I felt great,” Long said. “My driver went straight for once, so that definitely helped.”
And right behind her was Makenna Conrad, the other end of the Demon’s one-two punch that has led the team all season. Conrad shot an 82 to tie for third place overall.
“I was confident in my teammates the whole time,” Conrad said. “I was having a pretty good round, and I knew Kaylin was also having a pretty good round, so I wasn't too nervous, but you just never know what's going to happen.”
Indeed, Washington’s next four played more than good enough to make sure the Demons got into the state field. Adalyn Long and Haley Mitchell each shot an 89. Maci Williams finished at 91, and Mallary Johnson shot 99.
“It takes so much pressure off during the round,” said Conrad about her teammates. “Knowing that, even if I'm not shooting my best round, I know that my teammates will have low enough scores to make up for it.”
While the Demons’ team title wasn’t much of a question, there was still a lot of nervous energy for the Union area while scores were written on the leaderboard. Fairfield senior Viola Welsh shot an 84, and after some waiting, it was clear that score would be good enough to send her through individually.
Welsh’s 84 placed her fifth overall at the meet. Six individuals qualify for the state meet whether their team qualified or not.
Even more special for Welsh, was that Wednesday marked her final chance to get to the state meet. After not being able to play as a freshman due to the COVID-19 golf cancellation, she missed out on state as both a sophomore and a junior.
“It's my senior year. My last year,” said Welsh. “Going to state is something I wanted to do since I was in middle school. Finally going my senior year feels really great. It feels like I'm finally getting some kind of big acknowledgment.”
Welsh says she felt the jitters at first, but saw her game improve on the back nine.
“I was more nervous at the beginning of the round,” Welsh said. “At the end, I knew I played good, so I was more relaxed.”
As a team, Fairfield shot 372, which put them in fourth place out of 11 teams playing.
Macy Rayburn was the second Trojan down the list, shooting 95. Last year’s state qualifier, Myah Twohill, shot a 96. Myah Twohill finished at 96. Sara Kretz shot 97. Maggie Rayburn ended at 103, and Kate Petit shot 114.
Mt. Pleasant shot a 511 at its state qualifier in Cedar Rapids. The Panthers took 12th as a team, and did not get any individual qualifiers.
Kylie Walderbach was the closest Mt. Pleasant golfer to making it. She shot a 100, which was 16 strokes off qualification.
The Washington girls, and Welsh, will compete at the Class 3A state tournament at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls on May 25 and 26.
