Clear Creek Amana Senior Lee Uses Strong Back Nine to Win Title at Spartan Invitational
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
SOLON – After concluding a stellar junior season with a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament Clear Creek Amana golf standout Brooklyn Lee spent the offseason reworking her swing.
Lee spent the summer on the course and balanced basketball with twice-weekly golf work throughout the winter.
The result off the offseason work has showed up this spring in a smoother, more powerful swing.
“I fixed my swing a little bit because I was having some back issues,” Lee said. “My swing is a little different and I can get a little more power now with my swing.”
While the physical improvements have helped Lee get off to a strong start this season the greatest growth for the Clipper senior has been in her mental approach.
Lee showed that growth on Tuesday rebounding from a disappointing opening nine holes to win the individual title at the Spartan Invitational at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon.
“The mental game has definitely gotten way better,” Lee said. “Still being able to be confident after not the great start is something I’ve improved on a lot.”
Lee opened with a three-over-par 39 on the front nine on Tuesday but responded with a two-under par 34 on the back to edge Halle Sobaski of Benton Community by one stroke for the title with a 73.
After closing the front nine with a par, Lee carded Back-to-back birdies on the par-four 10th and par-four 11th to open her back nine.
She closed her round with seven consecutive pars.
“I definitely feel great about how I finished playing,” Lee said. “The front nine was a little rough for me, everything was all over the place, not one thing was going well and the back nine I just started kicking it into gear.”
It was the second individual title in three seasons for Lee at the Spartan Invitational.
She shot a 72 to win the meet as a sophomore in 2024 and shot a 71 last season while finishing runner-up to Sobaski by one shot.
On Tuesday Lee avenged that loss, and a runner-up finish to Sobaski at the Williamsburg Invitational on April 16 by edging the Benton standout by a shot for the title.
“I’m striking my irons pretty well right now,” Lee said. “The back nine I was hitting my driver better and putting better but my irons were good all day.”
The title by Lee helped Clear Creek Amana to a fifth-place team finish with a 374.
Benton Community won the team title with a 339 followed by Solon with a 342.
West Branch was eighth with a 404.
Elise Berry shot a 96 for Clear Creek Amana while Sophie Christensen shot a 102 and Gwen Dao carded a 103.
McKenna Worrell led West Branch with a 94 and Olivia Thomas shot a 95 for the Bears.
“I’ve been playing really well this season and I am really happy with how it’s been going,” Lee said. “I’m excited for the rest of the season.”
Spartan Invitational
At Saddleback Ridge Golf Course
Team scores – 1. Benton Community 339; 2. Solon 342; 3. Williamsburg 354; 4. Dyersville Beckman 368; 5. Clear Creek Amana 374; 6. West Delaware 388; 7. Washington 394; 8. West Branch 404; 9. Tipton 410
Individual leaders – 1. Brooklyn Lee (CCA) 73; 2. Halle Sobaski (BC) 74; 3. Maggie Domeyer (DB) 79; 4. Jaya Farlinger (SOL) 83; 5. Paycee Sorgenfrey (TIP) 83; 6. Madelyn Kenny (BC) 84; 7. Jenna Yearian (WIL) 85; 8. Emma Phelps (SOL) 86; 9. Adalyn Long (WAS) 86; 10. Lyla Hahn (SOL) 86
Solon (342) – Jaya Farlinger 83; Emma Phelps 86; Lyla Hahn 86; Taylor Jet 87; Macy Fuller 92; Addison Singsank 93
Clear Creek Amana (374) – Brooklyn Lee 73; Elise Berry 96; Sophie Christensen 102; Gwen Dao 103; Liahna Malin 106; Addy Sanders 106
West Branch (404) – McKenna Worrell 94; Olivia Thomas 95; Kaylynn Stein 105; Adelyn Hetrick 110; Kennedy Simpson 124
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