Hance returns to state golf for Panthers

NEWTON — The Creston/O-M girls fell 10 strokes short of a state tournament berth here Tuesday, but Madison Hance earned her second trip to state by finishing second with an 86.

Host Newton scored 385 and ADM was runner-up with 396 as the two state qualifying teams. Creston/O-M was third at 406 in the 12-team field at Westwood Golf Course.

Sarah Frischmeyer of Grinnell — Hance’s playing partner for the day — was medalist with a 13-over par 84. The top two teams and five individuals, plus ties, advance to the Class 4A state tournament June 1-2 at Marshalltown American Legion Golf Course. Tee time is 9 a.m. both days.

“Madison played very well,” Panther coach Jan Lesan said. “She stayed calm and worked through any issues she had. She played with the girl from Grinnell who won it and they had a good conversation.”

As a sophomore Hance placed 31st in the 4A state tournament at Ames Golf and Country Club with a 101-98 — 199 after tying for regional medalist with an 87.

Lesan said the Westwood course had some difficult holes — particularly a par-4 11th hole requiring great accuracy to avoid problems — made worse by rainy conditions during regional play.

“It rained all the way up,” Lesan said. “Then it did clear up for awhile. But when we started playing, the first six holes were just brutal. The rain just kept coming down. But everybody had to play in it. We just couldn’t get going. We found more problems there than when we played up there the first time.”

Coming so close with a team losing only one senior, Hannah Hagle, was a good experience, the Panther coach noted.

“Hopefully the young ladies will take this as an incentive to work hard this summer and make it to state next year,” Lesan said. “We had a great season — winning conference, winning all but one dual. We were third in the regional and the home team won. We would be going as the third team if it was like the boys where another team goes if the host team is one of the qualifiers. But, that’s the way the girls do it.”

Ashton Carter was second on the Panther team Tuesday with a 102 and Camryn Somers and Sophia Groumoutis rounded out with the scoring, each at 109.

“We did not play our best,” Lesan said. “ADM made state in both girls and boys and we wish them the best.”

Class 4A Regional

Westwood Golf Course

Par: 36-35 — 71

Team scoring — 1. Newton 385 (state qualifier); 2. ADM 396 (state qualifier); 3. Creston/O-M 406; 4. Grinnell 416; 5. Pella 418; 6. Norwalk 432; 7. Knoxville 449; 8. Perry 454; 9. Carlisle 455; 10. Ballard 457; 11. Dallas Center-Grimes 469; 12. Winterset 586.

Individual qualifiers — 1. Sarah Frischmeyer, Grinnell, 84 (medalist); 2. Madison Hance, Creston/O-M, 86 (runner-up); 3. Jessica Reynolds, Newton, 87; 4. Lexi Owen, ADM, 90; 5. (tie) Anna Roslien, Pella, 92; Madison Houge, Ballard, 92.

Creston/O-M (406) — Madison Hance 46-40 — 86; Ashton Carter 54-48 — 102; Camryn Somers 53-56 — 109; Sophia Groumoutis 55-54 — 109; Hannah Hagle 60-62 — 122; Hayley Osmun 67-64 — 131.