May 29, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Raiderettes, Eagles advance to state golf meet

By CHEYENNE ROCHE
The East Union girls golf team punched their ticket to state Wednesday at Crestwood. The team consists of freshman Kaelee Buffington, sophomores Marlys Mitchell, Kathryn Lack, Mia Tallmon and junior Gwen Nixon, who also qualified as an individual.

The East Union girls golf team punched their ticket to state Wednesday at Crestwood. The team consists of freshman Kaelee Buffington, sophomores Marlys Mitchell, Kathryn Lack, Mia Tallmon and junior Gwen Nixon, who also qualified as an individual.

ANITA — Two Pride of Iowa teams will represent at the IGHSAU girls golf state meet Thursday and Friday in Marshalltown.

The Mount Ayr Raiderettes swept postseason play, winning round one in Lenox on May 16 and round two at CAM Wednesday.

Taking second place at both contests were the East Union Eagles. At Lenox, the Raiderettes posted a score of 390 with the Eagles right on their tail at 392.

Mount Ayr pulled away at CAM, winning 384 to East Union’s 403.

Both teams will also send their top golfer as an individual qualifier.

Sophomore Jaylee Shaffer of Mount Ayr is the defending Class 1A silver medalist. The 2024 champion, Taylor Phillips of New London, was a senior last year.

In Lenox, Shaffer posted a winning score of 74; at CAM, she won with a 73.

The Eagles are sending junior Gwen Nixon to the individual contest. She took third in Lenox with an 89 and fifth at CAM with a 93.

The Mount Ayr team consists of Shaffer, Olivia Huntington, Kami Willis, Abby Larson, Izzy Gilbertson and Alana Doolittle.

Mount Ayr senior Alana Doolittle watches a putt May 16 at Lenox in the first round of regionals golf. The Raiderettes won in Lenox and Wednesday in Crestwood to advance to the state golf tournament. Sophomore Jaylee Shaffer also qualified as an individual.

Mount Ayr senior Alana Doolittle watches a putt May 16 at Lenox in the first round of regionals golf. The Raiderettes won in Lenox and Wednesday in Crestwood to advance to the state golf tournament. Sophomore Jaylee Shaffer also qualified as an individual. (DARLA SOBOTKA)

The East Union team is comprised of Nixon, Kaelee Buffington, Marlys Mitchell, Kathryn Lack and Mia Tallmon.

The state meet will begin Thursday at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start. Friday begins with 8:30 a.m. tee times.

Class 1A will compete at the American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown.

Fans can download the Golf Genius app and enter the GGID code of 25IAGIRLSSTATE to view leaderboards.

Thursday starting holes

Hole 8: Jaylee Shaffer, Mount Ayr

Hole 8B: Gwen Nixon, East Union; Olivia Huntington, Mount Ayr

Hole 10A: Kathryn Lack, East Union; Kami Willis, Mount Ayr

Hole 10B: Mia Tallmon, East Union

Hole 11: Alana Doolittle, Mount Ayr

Hole 12A: Marlys Mitchell, East Union; Izzy Gilbertson, Mount Ayr

Hole 13: Kaelee Buffington, East Union; Abby Larson, Mount Ayr.

Cheyenne Roche

CHEYENNE ROCHE

Originally from Wisconsin, Cheyenne has a journalism and political science degree from UW-Eau Claire and a passion for reading and learning. She lives in Creston with her husband and their two little dogs.