Raiderettes claim POI girls golf title

LEON — Mount Ayr had a spot in the trophy case that has sat empty for some time.

The Raiderettes girls golf team can make room for a new addition.

Led by stellar rounds from Abbey Schafer and Tessa Shields, Mount Ayr claimed the Pride of Iowa Conference Tournament title Tuesday at the Leon Golf & Club.

Mount Ayr won its first league tournament title since 2006 with a team score of 399. Central Decatur was the runner-up with a 451. Lenox was third with a 499. East Union was fifth with a 508; Nodaway Valley took seventh with a 525.

Schaffer led the way with the best round of the tournament, finishing with an 84.

Shields was the runner-up with an 87.

“When you have two girls who shoot in the low 40s, that really helps towards your team total,” said Mount Ayr assistant coach Jodie Geist.

Schafer and Shields each kept big numbers to a minimum.

“Abbey and Tessa played solid rounds,” Geist said.

Hallie Still came in with a 111, good for ninth, while Kaitlyn Dolecheck had a 117, Kylee Smith a 129 and Abbi Haley a 132.

“In order to win the team title, everyone on the team had to step up,” Geist said.

The Raiderettes kept mentally sharp throughout the day.

“We had talked about mental toughness and if you made a bad shot to evaluate, and be ready for the next shot,” Geist said. “Everyone played consistent golf.”

Winning the Pride of Iowa gives the Raiderettes good momentum heading into the postseason.

“This was a confidence builder for the team,” Geist said. “We talked about the schedule for this week and next leading into tournament play, and what we need to shoot and work on to be prepared to start tournament play.”

Central Decatur’s duo of Kristin Schaff and Lily Simon were the other players to break 100, finishing with a 94 and 99 respectively.

Lenox’s Morgan Parrish was fifth with a 103, while teammate Katelyn Belding was 11th with a 112. Brooke Miller had a 123 and Hannah Brown had a 161.

Interstate 35’s Addie Smith took seventh with a 107.

Southwest Valley, which only had three players, was paced by Kiara Roberts’ 114. Abbie Wetzel had a 128 and Maddi Ballard a 144.

Nodaway Valley was led by Megan Russell’s 124. Jodi Baudler posted a 128, while McKynna Newbury had a 134 and Julia Eshelman a 139.

Team results — 1. Mount Ayr, 399; 2. Central Decatur, 451; 3. Lenox, 499; 4. Pleasantville, 506; 5. East Union, 508; 6. Interstate 35, 514; 7. Nodaway Valley, 525; 8. Wayne, 535. Martensdale-St. Marys and Southwest Valley were incomplete.

Top 10 and ties — 1. Abbey Schafer, Mount Ayr, 84; 2. Tessa Shields, Mount Ayr, 87; 3. Kristin Schaff, Central Decatur, 94; 4. Lily Simon, Central Decatur, 99; 5. Morgan Parrish, Lenox, 103; 6. Kaitlyn Schad, Martensdale-St. Marys, 106; 7. Addie Smith, Interstate 35, 107; 8. Emma Jahner, Pleasantville, 109; 9. Hallie Still, Mount Ayr, 111; 10. Erica Halferty, Wayne, 112; 11. Katelyn Belding, Lenox, 112.

Central Decatur cards — Kristin Schaff, 94; Lily Simon, 99; Brooke Vecchio, 126; Alyssa Rhum, 132; Maggie Frank, 170.

East Union cards — Quinn Eslinger, 114; Anna Collins, 127; Lauren Hadley, 133; Olivia Moore, 134; Casey Allen, 141; Kate Sutton, 153.

Interstate 35 cards — Addie Smith, 107; Taylor Sears, 118; Riley Morris, 123; Rebecca Lamas, 166.

Lenox cards — Morgan Parrish, 103; Katelyn Belding, 112; Brooke Miller, 123; Hannah Brown, 161.

Mount Ayr cards — Abbey Schafer, 84; Tessa Shields, 87; Hallie Still, 1111; Kylee Smith, 129; Kaitlyn Dolecheck, 117; Abbi Haley, 132.

Nodaway Valley cards — Megan Russell, 124; Jodi Baudler, 128; McKynna Newbury, 134; Julia Eshelman, 139.

Southwest Valley cards — Kiara Roberts, 114; Abbie Wetzel, 128; Maddi Ballard, 144.