Steil Advances to Regional Final
SIGOURNEY – Aly Steil admitted Friday’s regional golf meet was not her best outing of the season. However, at the end she advanced to next Wednesday’s regional final at Honey Creek Resort at Moravia. North Mahaska placed sixth in the team race with a 489.
Steil carded a 13-over par 48 on the front nine and was in third after the first circuit around the Sigourney Golf and Country Club course. She posted a 50 on the second nine to secure the final advancing spot.
“My second shots were rough, and my short game was rough,” said Steil. “It just didn’t all add up.”
Steil admitted she was tired with a busy week. She won the South Iowa cedar league golf title on Monday, ran events in the rain at Thursday’s district track meet plus finding time for school and softball practice this week. She has balanced track and golf all season.
“I’ve been really tired lately,” said Steil. “My coaches have been good to work with this season.”
Highland Riverside won the team tournament with a 372 to easily outdistance second place BGM with a 424. Both teams will advance to the regional final. They also had the top three individual scores.
Elise Westercamp shot a 62-64 – 126; Avary Westercamp had a 65-67 – 132 and Lacey Campbell finished with a 68-65 – 133, to round out the North Mahaska scoring. This season was the first time the four had played golf competitively. It was also the first time in several years that the Warhawks have had enough girls to play as a team.
“We talked yesterday that when we are playing golf to just play golf,” said coach Al Hodgeman. “This is the first time we have had enough ladies to play. When we’re playing, we have to take a deep breath and just lay golf.
“I thought Lacey, Eli and Avary did great today. They set a standard for girls’ golf at North Mahaska.”
Hodgeman was pleased with Steil’s efforts throughout the season and on a day when she did have her best game.
“We realized today that some days golf is hard,” said Hodgeman. “Shots don’t go where we thought they would go. Despite her game today she still has the opportunity to go to state.”
Teams from BGM, Highland Riverside, Louisa-Muscatine, Martensdale-St. Marys, New London, Nodaway Valley and Wapello will be competing for spots at state.
Steil will enter the competition on Wednesday with the ninth best score. The top six scores will advance to the state meet in Marshalltown.
