By KELLY TERPSTRA, Courier sports writer
May 16, 2008 12:11 am
—
OTTUMWA — The team group shot that cameras clicked last May at Jester Park Golf Course in Granger was a priceless timepiece that Leonard Kull and Dusty Stewart thoroughly savored.
Each golf coach celebrated a state title on the same turf and kept a kinship thriving in a moment that will always be cherished and remembered.
State titles have a way of doing that, especially among friends.
Kull’s Washington Demons and Stewart’s Ottumwa Bulldogs want to get back for their second picturesque installment.
Ottumwa marched to yet another win — its 25th in a row — with a 15-stroke victory over Washington as the two teams hooked up in their last dual meet of the season on Thursday at Cedar Creek Golf Course.
Washington is the defending state champ in Class 3A, Kull’s first state title accomplished since he started the Demon girls golf program in 1981. Ottumwa is the reigning top dog in Class 4A after winning by 18 strokes over second place Ankeny in the 2007 state meet.
Washington already started its trek to back-to-back crowns at district competition in Fairfield last Monday. The Demons, like Ottumwa, begin regional play for the right to state this coming Monday, May 19. Washington competes at its home course while Ottumwa travels to Burlington and Flint Hills.
“There’s a real good rapport between both teams,” said Kull. “Both teams were rooting for the other team pretty strongly last year at state. All the girls wanted to get in each others team picture. That was a good time.”
Ottumwa senior Kristin Paulson shot an even-par 35 to take medalist honors. Paulson is the second-best prep golfer in the state according to the stroke averages posted on the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association’s website.
Ottumwa senior Betsy Anderson pulled off the surprise of the day with her sterling round of 41, her personal best. That terrific round awarded her with runner-up medalist honors.
“The best round of my life,” she said.
Sarah Paulson carded a 42 for the Bulldogs.
Ottumwa’s sophomore tandem of Paige Wetrich and Hailey Sheldahl aren’t firing the kind of low numbers that Stewart would like, but he firmly believes they’ll be on top of their games come crunch time. Each soph shot a 47. Bulldog sophomore Miranda Goodman fired a 48. All varsity competitors that teed up on Thursday for Ottumwa will be Stewart’s lineup for regionals.
Wetrich had this to say about her day’s performance, which hit a low note on the par-four, No. 7. She is looking to peak at regionals, along with her team.
“I played decent but I kind of had a blow-up hole. I had an eight,” said Wetrich. “Hopefully we lower our scores for regionals and state — get the bad shots out now.”
Washington was led by senior Katie Threlkeld’s 43. The Demons’ Shelby Marie was next on the scorecard with 45. Washington senior Jaci Thode shot a 46, as did fellow senior Paige Paul. Thode attended elementary school in Ottumwa before moving to Washington.
Washington has had only two losses on the season — Thursday’s setback versus Ottumwa and a third-place finish to the Bulldogs at the Ottumwa Invite. Kull has his top five golfers back from a year ago.
Stewart wouldn’t mind playing Washington a little more often.
“Washington is a team that we could have played a few more times this year and I would have been happy because they have girls with good attitudes and they’re pretty good golfers,” said Stewart.
At Cedar Creek Golf Course
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Par 35
Team scoring — 1. Ottumwa 165; 2. Washington 180.
Medalist — Kristin Paulson, Ottumwa 35.
Runner-up — Betsy Anderson, Ottumwa 41.
Ottumwa individuals — Sarah Paulson 42, Paige Wetrich 47, Hailey Sheldahl 47, Miranda Goodman 48.
Washington individuals — Jaci Thode 46, Paige Paul 46, Katie Threlkeld 43, Shelby Marie 45, Lauren Moeller 50, Molly Donnelly 49.
Ottumwa JV individuals — C.J. Toomire 54, Katie Maher 52, Lauren Woodard 57.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.