Solon Returns to State Golf Meet With Runner-up Regional Finish
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
SOLON – At this time last spring the Solon girls golf team was on cruise control.
The Spartans were in the middle of the best season in program history, had claimed their first conference crown and were seemingly sailing toward a second consecutive trip to the state meet.
A third-place finish at the state qualifying brought a dream season to an unexpected end.
“Last year was one the best teams the program has ever seen,” Solon junior Sydney Dee said. “We got 18-hole record, 9-hole record, won WAMAC Conference for the first time and the qualifying meet just hit us like a brick wall.”
Dee and her teammates got a measure of redemption on Wednesday.
Solon secured its second state tournament appearance in three seasons on Wednesday with a runner-up finish at the Class 3A, Region 4 meet at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon.
Dee led five Solon golfers that finished in the top-15 with a fifth-place finish as the Spartans finished one strike in front of Lisbon for the final state-qualifying spot.
“The ending to last year was really disappointing so going back to state this year is really great,” Dee said. “It’s definitely a little redemption from last year.”
Cedar Rapids Xavier got first and second place finishes from sisters Mehar and Meera Julka and won the team title with a 321.
Solon finished with a 338 to secure a spot at the 3A state tournament scheduled for May 23-24 at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.
“Once we looked at the draw we knew we had to play well and all six girls really contributed all year long so it was really cool to see some shoot their personal best on the biggest stage we’ve played,” Solon coach Curtis Hendrickson said. “We just really stressed to play with confidence because they put the time in and they earned that confidence and the girls really stepped up and did that when it got tough.”
Dee led the way, shooting an 11-over-par 83 to finish in fifth place.
The junior followed up a 39 on the opening nine with a 43 on the back to finish in the top five.
“I think having a home course makes you feel more comfortable even if you aren’t playing how you want or hitting the shots you want,” Dee said. “Being at your home course it feels easier.”
Dee had plenty of company on the leaderboard as four other Spartans shot 90 or better to finish in the top 15.
Junior Izzy Frees was one stroke back of Dee with an 83 and finished in sixth place.
“Last year we didn’t miss it by much but it was all the little things that added up and this year we had more confidence going into it,” Frees said. “It was our home course, we knew we had all the preparation we needed so I felt I lot more comfortable going into it than I did last year.”
Senior Rylie Greazel shot an 85 to finish in eighth place and senior Peyton Pentico shot a 44 on the front and the back to card an 88 which was good for 13th place.
Junior Mya Miller placed 15th with a 90 for the Spartans.
For Greazel, who was part of last year’s team that just missed a return trip to state Wednesday was a feeling of satisfaction.
“Last year we really thought we could make it and we had a great chance at it and it kind of fell apart and that gave us extra motivation to keep going and push ourselves today,” Greazel said. “We thought last year was our year but we made sure this year was our year too.”
Class 3A, Region 4 Meet
At Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon
Team scores – 1. Cedar Rapids Xavier 321; 2. Solon 338; 3. Lisbon 339; 4. Grinnell 354; 5. Central DeWitt 361; 6. Keokuk 388; 7. Fort Madison 390; 8. Davis County 413; 9. Fairfield 413; 10. Davenport Assumption 416; 11. Washington 418; 12. Mount Pleasant 419
Individual leaders – 1. Mehar Julka (CRX) 35-37 – 72; 2. Meera Julka (CRX) 35-38 – 73; 3. Kaylie Kelchen (LIS) 37-38 – 75; 4. Maggie Froeschle (CD) 42-40 – 82; 5. Sydney Dee (SOL) 39-43 – 82; 6. Izzy Frees (SOL) 40-43 – 83; 7. Lauren Kram (CRX) 42-42 – 84; 8. Rylie Greazel (SOL) 41-44 – 85; 9. Eryn Jackson (LIS) 39-36 – 85; 10. Mckinze Elliot (GRI) 44-41 – 85; 11. Lily Montgomery (GRI) 42-44 – 86; 12. Isabelle Pierce (CD) 42-44 – 86; 13. Peyton Pentico (SOL) 44-44 – 88; 14. Brooke Ellyson (LIS) 45-44 – 89; 15. Mya Miller (SOL) 43-47 – 90
Solon (338) – Sydney Dee 39-43 – 82; Izzy Frees 40-43 – 83; Rylie Greazel 41-44 – 85; Peyton Pentico 44-44 – 88; Mya Miller 43-47 – 90; Bailey Woolley 49-48 – 97
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