By Paul D. Bowker
WAPELLO
Mid-Prairie’s girls golfers are coming home on a roll.
After winning the River Valley Conference tournament by 22 shots and an Iowa 2A Regional tournament by 18 shots last Friday, the Golden Hawks host a Regional Final on Wednesday at Kalona Golf Course, their home course.
“Hopefully, home cooking keeps us in it,” Mid-Prairie head coach Tracy McArtor said.
Olivia Swartzendruber, a Mid-Prairie junior, shot 84 to win medalist honors last Friday in the Region 5B tournament at Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club in Wapello, and Morgyn Bender, a junior, shot an 85 for runner-up medalist.
The Golden Hawks combined for a 378, winning the team title by 18 strokes over Centerville.
“Getting to the next round by 20 strokes gives me a lot of hope,” Swartzendruber said.
A first- or second-place finish Wednesday would advance Mid-Prairie to the 2A state tournament May 28 and 29 at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown.
Macie Ihrig, a Mid-Prairie freshman, tied for seventh place with a 100. Paiton Chittick, one of two Mid-Prairie seniors, added a 109.
Delani Blum, a senior, carded a 110 and freshman Noelle Nelson had a 117.
Joining the Golden Hawks in Wednesday’s Regional Final (10 a.m. start) are Centerville, Oelwein, Durant and Camanche. Oelwein won Region 5A with a score of 380.
Mid-Prairie was unbeaten at Kalona Golf Course this season, including winning first place in the Golden Hawk Girls Golf Invitational on April 23.
“The kids know the greens,” McArtor said. “They know where you can miss it and where you can make it.”
BY THE NUMBERS
2A REGIONAL
(May 15 at Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club)
Team scores: 1, Mid-Prairie, 378; 2, Centerville, 396; 3, Mediapolis, 412; 4, Albia, 430; 5, Davis County, 433; 6, Chariton, 446; 7, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, 467.
Top Five: 1, Olivia Swartzendruber, Mid-Prairie, 84; 2, Morgyn Bender, Mid-Prairie, 85; 3, Emma Kipfer, Albia, 89; 4, Gracie Zaputil, Centerville, 90; 5, Jayden Koenig, Davis County, 92.
Mid-Prairie: T7, Macie Ihrig, 100; T15, Paiton Chittick, 109; 17, Delani Blum, 110; T27, Noelle Nelson, 117.