Solon Shows Improvement in Runner-up Finish at Home Invitational
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
SOLON – In the first month of the season the Solon girls golf team has made significant improvement.
Never was that growth more apparent than on Tuesday at Solon’s own invitational.
Solon shot a season-best 342 to finish runner-up at its own Spartan Invitational at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon.
“We lost a couple of seniors and I think that took a toll on us early but I think as the older girls we are guiding the girls and shaping our team into what we want to be,” Solon senior Jaya Farlinger said. “It’s been kind of a challenge for sure but it’s really rewarding when we have days like this.”
Farlinger fired an 83 to finish fourth overall and led four Spartans that finished in the top 11 on Tuesday.
Senior Emma Phelps shot an 86 to finish eighth and junior Lyla Hahn finished 10th with her own 86 as Solon finished three shots back of team champion Benton Community.
Junior Taylor Jett shot an 87 to place 11th for Solon.
“(342) is only 11 strokes off our school record so we played really well,” Solon coach Curtis Hendrikson said. “Jayla led the way and Emma was right there too. We knew this year we were going to have to ascend and improve and work at it and they are doing that.”
Just how far has Solon come in a short amount of time this season?
At the Bobcat Invitational on April 11 Benton Community led Solon by 31 strokes after nine holes and finished 39 strokes clear of the Spartans for the title on their home course.
On Monday Solon trimmed that deficit to just 12 strokes, falling to the Bobcats 182-170 in a WAMAC triangular at Tara Hills Country on Monday.
Less than 24 hours later it was just three strokes that separated the two teams in Solon.
“We played them last time and they beat us by 12 strokes so we are getting closer,” Hendriksen said. “We are chipping away and it helps that we are trying to come from behind and we have them be that pace car for us.”
Farlinger led the way for the Spartans on Tuesday.
The senior shot a 42 on the opening nine holes and closed with a 41 on the back nine
“It’s so much fun to play at home,” Farlinger said. “It’s such an advantage because I work here, I play here all summer so I know this course like the back of my hand.”
All six Solon golfers shot 93 or better on Tuesday as Macy Fuller shot a 92 and Addison Singsank shot a 93.
“It feels so good to play the way we did today,” Farlinger said. “We were coming off of a couple of tough losses and today we were able to show everybody that we can play.”
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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