OSKALOOSA – Sometimes a little extra practice comes in handy. For North Mahaska sophomore Aly Steil that extra work came on the putting green. Monday, she mastered the 18-hole Oskaloosa Golf Course shooting an 84 to win medalist honors to outdistance second place Jacey Reineke of Belle Plaine with a 98.

North Mahaska placed seventh in the 10-team event with a 521. BGM topped the field with a 446. Colfax-Mingo and Montezuma tied with a 465 to finish with a second and third. Iowa Valley and HLV finished fourth and fifth with a 485.

Steil started the day with the only ball on the green on the first hole and scored a par to get her day started. She went on to card a 41 on front nine. The back nine at the course is considered one of the toughest in the area. She shot a 43 on the back.

“It felt pretty good to begin that way,” said Steil. “I hoped to play bogie golf today. I have been doing some putting drills and that has helped a lot. I had trouble on 13 and 16. Position was the key. I hit into the trees on 16 and had to play it safe to get out.”

Avary Westercamp finished with a 65-70 – 135; Lacey Campbell 72-76 – 148 and Elise Westercamp 78-76 – 154.

The Warhawks will now prepare for the regional tournament this Friday at Sigourney Golf Club.

North Mahaska’s finish as a team at the conference meet was one that has not occurred for some time. With a team of four golfers who had not played competitively it was pleasing to coach Al Hodgeman.

“This is a special group,” said Hodgeman. “I am really proud of Aly. She wants to be prepared and puts in the work to be her best.”

Team Scores: 1. BGM 446; 2. Colfax-Mingo 465;  3. Montezuma 465; 4. Iowa Valley 485; 5. HLV 485; 6. Sigourney 496; 7. North Mahaska 521; 8. Belle Plaine 538; 9. English Valleys 542; 10. Lynnville-Sully 591.