Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The calendar has switched to April and that means that high school golf season is here.

Competition for teams across the state officially started last month but due to weather and course conditions competitions were few and far between.

As the weather turns the action begins to really heat up as area teams begin to prep for the postseason that begins with regional tournaments for Class 1A and 2A teams on May 13. Regional finals are May 20 for all classes with the state golf meets set for May 28 and 29.

Before teams and individuals tee it up for the postseason here are five area golfers to keep an eye on this spring.

Neely Maurus

Sophomore, Liberty High

It didn’t take long for Maurus to establish herself as a golfer to watch during her varsity debut season last spring.

Maurus posted a team-best 48.4 nine-hole average and owned a 94.5 average in four 18-hole outings with a low of 83.

With a year of experience under her belt Maurus will look to take a step forward this season as Liberty High enters its first season in the Mississippi Valley Conference and makes the move up to Class 4A.

Reegan Helle

Senior, Solon

A four-year varsity starter, Helle is coming off the best season of her career.

The returning number one in the Solon lineup, Helle improved her nine-hole average by five strokes last season posting a team-best average of 52.3.

With its top three golfers returning Solon will be looking to take a major step forward this season and Helle expects to be a big part of the Spartans’ success.

Ellie Kouba

Senior, West High

Kouba returns to the West High lineup after establishing herself as the number one in the Women of Troy lineup last season while earning Mississippi Valley Conference honorable mention all-division honors.

Kouba led West High in both nine-hole (50.5) and 18-hole average (91.8) last season posting a team-best low round of 78 in the process.

A three-year regular in the varsity lineup Kouba will look to end her career with a bang after lowering her total average by more than a stroke last season.

Ellie VanLandSchoot

Senior, Regina

Last season VanLandschoot missed a state meet appearance last season after advancing to the regional final.

VanLandschoot will look to take her final prep season one step further this spring.

Last season was a breakthrough for VanLandschoot who led Regina with a combined 50.5 average and finished third at the River Valley Conference meet with a 95.

The combined average for VanLandschoot last season was more than 12 strokes better than her average from the previous season.

Lexie Clemens

Senior, West Branch

Clemens ranked third on the team in scoring average last season but will took to move to the top of the West Branch lineup in her final prep season.

In her first season of full-time varsity action Clemens average a combined 56 and finished eighth at the River Valley Conference meet with a 102.

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