Lady linksters trip Charles City, fall to Waverly-SR

Waukon’s girls golf team opened Northeast Iowa Conference action during their recent week on the links. Last Tuesday, the Indians suffered a home loss to Waverly-Shell Rock by a 209-219 count. The Tribe bounced back later in the week to defeat Charles City, 205-209, on the Comets’ home course.

The Indians’ season standing is 2-2, which includes a 1-1 mark in the NEIC.

vs. Waverly-Shell Rock...

The Indians got the 2005 NEIC season underway last Tuesday, April 12, hosting Waverly-Shell Rock. The visiting Go-Hawks handed the Tribe a 209-219 loss.

According to Waukon coach Kathy McMillan, weather conditions for the contest were awful. “This was the least desirable weather to play golf in. It was cold and rainy and the temperature got down to 41 degrees,” she said. But, she pointed out, everyone was playing the same course so the Tribe couldn’t use the weather as an excuse in the loss. “Waverly was just able to outplay us.”

With weather as a factor, scores were understandably high. “Scores were high, but I’m not too concerned about that on this particular day of golf. We are a young team that’s learning how to cope with the many mental stages of the game,” the coach stated. “Scores will come down with a commitment to practice and always doing their best.”

McMillan also tells her charges to keep their eyes toward the end of the season. “It is more important how we finish the season,” she said.

Junior Cassie Tysland led the Indians with a round of 53 while senior Melissa Smed and sophomore Brianne Burke each added rounds of 55. Senior Leah Schellhammer completed the team score with a 56.

One thing McMillan tells her team is that even if the night seems negative, there is always a positive that comes out of it. For Tuesday night, she pointed to Smed as “the positive.”

“Melissa is a senior who’s out for her first year of golf. She brought in an impressive 55 and has been shooting steadily in that range. You can ask her how she likes playing and she’ll grin and say competition isn’t so bad after all,” McMillan noted.

Waverly-Shell Rock swept the medalist positions. Kayla Johnson led with a 49 while Sarah David added a 51. The Go-Hawks also added rounds of 54 and 55 in the win.

Junior varsity...

In junior varsity action, Waukon was upended again by the Go-Hawks, this time by a 223-243 count.

Junior Christie Dundee paced Waukon with a 57 while sophomore Lynsey Mellick added a 58. Sophomore Tatum Norton turned in a score of 63 while senior Jodi Sweeney and junior Chelsey Meyer each shot 65s with one of those rounds counting in the team score. Freshman Bailey Schlitter also completed the course, scoring 88 for the afternoon.

Waverly’s junior varsity added individual totals of 55, 55, 56, and 57 to take the win.

at Charles City...

After suffering a loss to the Go-Hawks, Waukon bounced back to defeat Charles City by a 205-209 count on the Comets’ home course last Friday, April 15.

The bad weather that plagued Tuesday’s meet was long gone with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s making for a good night for golf.

The nice weather, coupled with a good week of practice made the meet smoother for the Tribe. “Now this is what I like to see,” said McMillan. “This is the payoff from a good week of practice. We know we can cut even more strokes off if everyone is on target.”

Tysland was certainly on target at Charles City. She dipped below 50 for the first time in her career and claimed medalist honors with a 47. “Congratulations to Cassie for earning her first varsity medalist honors,” the coach stated.

Mellick posted a 51 while Dundee and Schellhammer rounded out the varsity tab with a 53 and 54, respectively.

Megan Nolte of Charles City was the runner-up medalist with a 49. The Comets also added rounds of 53, 53, and 54 in the loss.

After the meet, McMillan encouraged her charges to put extra time in as the Tribe’s competition schedule heats up. “We’re in competition three days this week so there won’t be much time for practice. The team needs to focus on themselves and the course they are playing. With good course management and an accurate short game, we can do it!”

Junior varsity...

Only four strokes separated Waukon and Charles City in the junior varsity portion of the meet as well, however the Comets managed a 233-237 victory.

Smed had Waukon’s low round of 55 while Burke added a 58. Norton collected 60 strokes on the course and Sweeney rounded out scoring with a 64. Meyer also competed, posting a 69.

Charles City counted rounds of 55, 57, 60, and 61 to take the win.

Waukon was scheduled to played Caledonia Tuesday night. On tap for the Indians later this week is a Friday, April 22 match at New Hampton. Next Monday, April 25, the Tribe will host Crestwood. Both events are scheduled to start at 4 p.m.