Washington wins SEC girls golf title

WASHINGTON — It was another runaway for Washington’s girls golf team, but this one meant a little more. It was the Southeast Conference team championship, and it was Kiki Bruner running away with the individual title.

The title was obtained on a saturated Washington Golf and Country Club course after early rains Monday.

It made the greens play different from morning to afternoon. That didn’t affect Bruner as she carded a 40 on her first nine holes, then a 38 for a 78. Teammates Anna Nacos (39-45—84) and Makenna Conrad (40-44—84) had the next best scores but shot higher totals on their second nine. Kaylin Long opened with a 47, then came home with a 43 for her 90.

Washington’s Josie Tanner cleaned up her game after a 52 then posted a 46 for a 98, which was matched by Mt. Pleasant’s Eli Liechty. Washington’s Alecia Goff carded 53 and 51 for a 104.

Mt. Pleasant’s Sami Wibben shot a 53-53—106. Ryann Davidson had a 52-56—108 and Kylie Walderbach a 59-54—113. Izabel Yoder scored a 71-67—138.

Fairfield was led by Viola Welsh and her round of 55-49—104. Myah Twohill followed with a 55-55—110, and Kate Pettit matched that at 53-57—110. Sara Kretz had a 55-58—113. Macy Rayburn shot 55-59—114 and Maggie Rayburn 63-59—122.

Burlington’s Lauren Briggs was an all-conference player with her 45-45—90.

"When the rain stopped, I would hit too hard, and the ball would go past the hole,“ Conrad said. ”I think I had a four-putt on nine. I was not very happy.“

Problem is the greens could all be different because of the weather. Greens on top of a hill where the wind hits it were faster than greens down in the valley.

“The big surprise for me was to finish that well but my team did great,” Washington’s Long said. “I guess hard work pays off.”

Long spends a lot of time practicing golf, which she said is better than practicing basketball.

“On hole seven, I made a very long putt for par,” Long said. “That putt helped me have confidence. I’m not very good at putting, so it helped.”

"Being my senior year, a conference champion feels pretty good,“ Bruner said. ”As a team, we always aim for conference champ as well as regionals and state.“

The Demons haven’t talked about state, but "we are all aiming to win state as a team. As long as I play good, I will be happy with how I do.“

Nerves are definitely a problem especially in the bigger tournaments, but that’s why Washington coach Len Kull schedules big tournaments.

“The Waukee tournament was good for us because everybody was a lot stricter about the rules, and they were a lot better players,” Conrad said.

It was a little tournament last Thursday that helped Conrad Monday.

The very same teams played the same course for nine holes, and Washington shot 161, Mount Pleasant 193 and Fairfield 215.

Conrad did not shoot well, so she knew what to practice.

"The weather changed quite a bit from Thursday, but I used pick, clean, place to my advantage, and I was sure to hit it solid,“ Conrad said.

TEAM SCORES 1. Washington 336, 2. Mt. Pleasant 425, 3. Fairfield 437, 4. Keokuk 459, 5. Burlington 504

ALL-CONFERENCE

Kiki Bruner (W) 78

Anna Nacos (W) 84

Makenna Conrad (W) 84

Lauren Briggs (B) 90

Kaylin Long (W) 90

Josie Tanner (W) 98

Eli Liechty (MP) 98