Clarke wins Southwest Iowa Cup

After a total of 28 18-hole scoring rounds played by girls and boys teams throughout the day Tuesday, the Southwest Iowa Cup golf tournament was decided by a single stroke.

Clarke edged Winterset for the championship trophy with a combined girls and boys score of 772. Winterset finished with a total score of 773. Participating schools Creston, East Union and Lenox did not field full girls teams with at least four counting scores, so the championship became a two-team race.

Winterset, led by Des Moines Area Community College recruit Luke Linde with an 18-hole round of 68 (35-33), won the boys competition with a team score of 316. Clarke, led by runner-up medalist Shay Mathews 10 strokes behind Linde with a round of 78, took second place at 351. Creston finished fourth in the boys team scoring at 363.

Clarke topped Winterset, 421-457, to win the girls championship. Clarke’s Sophia Davis shot 99 (52-47) as medalist and East Union’s Gwen Nixon was runner-up, winning the tiebreaker with Clarke’s Bridgette Henry as both finished at 100.

Other area medal winners in addition to Nixon were Creston’s Marshall Long in third place (80) and Zayne Eslinger of East Union fourth (81) in the boys division; and Creston’s Kylie Metheny, fifth in girls competition with a 105 (54-51).

Held in conjunction with the Southwest Iowa Cup hosted by both Crestmoor Golf Club of Creston and Lakeshore Golf and Country Club of Afton is the Tri-County traveling trophy competition between the boys teams from Winterset (Madison County), Clarke (Clarke Country) and Creston (Union County). Winterset claimed the 2024 title with its 316 score.

Creston coach Steve Shantz saw positive signs from both Panther groups, including nearly having two girls medal winners. Averi Culbertson was just behind Metheny’s fifth-place finish.

“We were impressed with Kylie earning fifth place in the 17-person girls side of the tournament,” Shantz said. “She was consistent in both rounds. Averi had a tough start at Crestmoor, hitting her first shot out of bounds, but came back and was one stroke off of earning a medal in sixth place (110).”

Winterset’s Kennedy Jones was sixth at 109.

Shantz and assistant coach Bryce Schafer saw progress in the Panther boys team.

“Marshall shot well enough for third on the 36-person boys side after a rough first hole and could have tied for second,” Shantz said. “Carson (Rieck) had two bad holes at Crestmoor that put him seven strokes down, but he shot well at East Union. Garrick Clausen had a great round in his second contest ever. Chasse (Downing) had some great shots and just needs to be more consistent. Tristan (Evans) struggled a little today in his first 18-hole tournament, but shot 46 in his second nine after a 60 on his first. Ethan (Holliday) had some great shots that I watched and he will get better with experience. Overall, with the inexperience we have at positions four through six, we are getting better and learning the game. We were about 10 strokes better than our first meet at Atlantic and have been striking the ball better.”

Both Creston teams were back in competition Thursday, with the boys playing Lewis Central at Fox Run Golf Course and the girls in the Fillie Invitational in Shenandoah.

GIRLS

Team scoring — 1. Clarke 421; 2. Winterset 457; East Union, Creston, Lenox no team score.

Individual medal winners — 1. Sophia Davis, Clarke, 99; 2. Gwen Nixon, East Union, 100 (tiebreaker); 3. Bridgette Henry, Clarke, 100; 4. Brooklyn Davis, Winterset, 102; 5. Kylie Metheny, Creston, 105.

Creston — Kylie Metheny 54-51 — 105; Averi Culbertson 50-60 — 110.

Lenox — Hadlee Christen 64-57 — 121; Faith Daughterty 73-69 — 142.

East Union — Gwen Nixon 49-51 — 100; Kathryn Lack 52-64 — 116; Mia Tallmon 57-70 — 127.

BOYS

Team scoring — 1. Winterset 316; 2. Clarke 351; 3. East Union 353; 4. Creston 363; 5. Lenox 401.

Individual medal winners — 1. Luke Linde, Winterset, 68; 2. Shay Mathews, Clarke, 78; 3. Marshall Long, Creston, 80; 4. Zayne Eslinger, East Union, 81; 5. Cael Hirsch, Winterset, 82; 6. Hunter Lyon 45-38 — 83.

Creston (363) — Marshall Long 42-38 — 80; Carson Rieck 49-43 — 92; Garrick Clausen 44-49 — 93; Chasse Downing 53-45 — 98; Tristan Evans 62-46 — 108; Ethan Holliday 59-58 — 117.

East Union (353) — Zayne Eslinger 43-38 — 81; Austin Lack 44-40 — 84; Brock Jones 45-47 — 92; Kyson Kessler 52-44 — 96; Josh Lopez 55-46 — 101; Ty Tallmon 48-55 — 103.

Lenox — Laramie Stoaks 46-46 — 92; Kolben Robinson 51-50 — 101; Dayton Tull 53-50 — 103; Patton Adams 52-53 — 105; Cash Brammer 56-50 — 106; Dayson Gregg 58-55 — 113.

Combined team trophy scoring (girls-boys) — 1. Clarke 772; 2. Winterset 773.