OSKALOOSA – Junior Aly Steil shot an 88 and freshman Addison Vander Beek knocked 30 strokes off her previous 18 holes to help North Mahaska to its first ever girl’s golf conference title. The Warhawks shot a 384 to outdistance Sigourney and BGM, which tied for second with a 391. Steil lost a one-hole playoff to BGM’s Aurelia Roudabush to earn runnerup medalist honors.
It was a solid afternoon for the Warhawks placing three in the top 10. Steil, Jocelyn Pinkerton and Elise Westercamp all placed in the top 10. Pinkerton carded a 96 and Westercamp added a 97. Vander Beek jumped up the scoring pylon to place 18th overall with a 103.
“How crazy is this,” said a beaming NM coach Al Hodgeman. “I thought we could shoot in the top three. Addison was the difference. She knocked 30 strokes off her score from Friday. Jocelyn and Elise also put us in a position to win.
“Aly shot 20 shots better. Our theme is ‘Leave no doubt,’ and we did that today. We left no doubt.”
Senior Breckyn Schilling finished with a 112 and Lacey Campbell shot 125. With their effort, Steil and Pinkerton also earned all-conference honors in the South Iowa Cedar League.
Eleven teams came to Oskaloosa Golf to compete on the adjusted par-68 course. The course has a long and challenging back nine that took its toll on some players.
For Steil, it was the second meet in a row she played a one-hole playoff. She and Roudabush traded strokes all day. Roudabush had a 42-46 round while Steil went 43-45. The two players and a large gallery then followed them to No. 1 tee for the playoff.
Steil’s tee shot found the sand on the far right and Roudabush landed on the left corner of the green. From there she two-putted to win the hole and take medalist honors.
Steil said playing a playoff is different mindset than playing the course in regulation.
“It’s obviously much different because you have a lot more eyes following you,” said Steil. “I’ve got to get better and need to stop being so nervous and stay calm.”
Steil said she had a different game on each side of the course.
“The first two or three holes weren’t the best then I settled in. On the back I settled into my game and played even through the first four. I just need to be more confident.”
For Steil and her teammates, winning the title was not a surprise, they felt they had the ability to do so.
“We really knew we could do it,” said Steil. “We have some great girls, and we all finished well today.”
All eyes are now on the first round of regionals, which will be played at Pleasantville on Friday, May 16. A win there, bring the shot at a state team berth to Prairie Knolls, the home of the Warhawks.
Team scores: 1. North Mahaska 384, 2. BGM 391, 3. Sigourney 29, 4. Iowa Valley 434, 5. English Valleys 445, 6. Lynnville-Sully 455, 7. Keota 465, 8. Montezuma 468, 9. Colfax-Mingo 472, 10. HLV 474, 11. Belle Plaine WD.
