May 20, 2008 01:04 am
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BURLINGTON — Ottumwa’s title defense begins now.
The Ottumwa girls golf team’s quest at back-to-back state titles lifted off the ground on Monday at Flint Hills Golf Course in Burlington.
The Bulldogs won their regional by 17 strokes and qualified for the Class 4A State Tournament to be held in Marshalltown May 27-28.
The win moved Ottumwa’s win streak to 26 straight meets without a loss. The last setback Ottumwa encountered came at the 2006 state meet, where the Bulldogs finished third.
“We obviously want to win state, but you have to get there first. We have the first half done,” said Ottumwa head coach Dusty Stewart.
Ottumwa is the defending state champ and won its regional with a team score of 320. Bettendorf was runner-up with a 337.
The state takes the top two teams in a region to state and the best five individual scores. Albia’s Amy Garver qualified for state as an individual in her team’s Class 2A regional in State Center. The Lady Dees linkster fired an 87 — just one stroke off the best score.
The top personal performance at Burlington came by Ottumwa senior Kristin Paulson. Paulson fired a one-under par 70 to lead all scores and propel her team into the next round.
Kristin’s twin sister, Sarah, also had an outstanding day with a three-over par 74, good for third place.
Stewart was very happy about his team’s performance and mentioned that the Bulldogs team total was the second-best score they’ve shot on 18 holes this year.
“I think the girls responded pretty well. They put in a lot of hard work this week, especially their short game,” said Stewart.
Ottumwa sophomores Hailey Sheldahl and Paige Wetrich each shot rounds of 88. Those scores could go even lower at state if each of the talented linksters avoid a big hole, which happened on Monday. Sheldahl and Wetrich both had a hole where they carded eight strokes.
“They really came around,” said Stewart.
Ottumwa senior Betsy Anderson played to a round of 96 and sophomore Miranda Goodman scored a 97.
Ottumwa’s stiffest competition at state will be what most pundits thought it would be — Ankeny, Ames and West Des Moines Valley. Those teams, along with Ottumwa, comprised the top four slots at the ’07 state meet.
Ankeny fired the lowest round of any Class 4A team in its region at Fort Dodge. The Hawks carded a 317 and second-place Ames fired a 323. West Des Moines Valley won its region in West Des Moines with a 339.
Joining those four teams at state, which will be played at Elmhurst Country Club in Marshalltown, are Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Marshalltown and Newton.
Class 4A Region 2
At Flint Hills Golf Course
at Burlington
Monday, May 19, 2008
Par 71
Team scoring — 1. Ottumwa 320; 2. Bettendorf 337; 3. Davenport Central 350; 4. Muscatine 357; 5. Iowa City West 367; 6. Davenport West 372; 7. Pleasant Valley 373; 8. North Scott 377; 9. Burlington 379; 10. Iowa City High 391; 11. Davenport North 393; Clinton NS.
Medalist — Kristin Paulson, Ottumwa 70.
Runner-up — Leah Burich, Bettendorf 71.
Individual State qualifers — Kristin Paulson, Ottumwa 70; Leah Burich, Bettendorf 71; Sarah Paulson, Ottumwa 74; Megan Chitty, Davenport Central 81; Erica Anderson, Davenport West 81.
Ottumwa individuals — Hailey Sheldahl 88, Paige Wetrich 88, Betsy Anderson 96, Miranda Goodman 97.
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