Roland-Story prepared all season for the past two days.
The Norse participated in the Class 2A girls state golf tournament Thursday and Friday at the American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown. They had been building towards state since the start of the season in April and when the time came for the big meet they delivered.
After 36 holes of competition over the two days Roland-Story was crowned the 2A girls state golf team champions with a score of 723.
“It feels awesome,” Roland-Story coach Larry Ammerman said. “This group of ladies really worked hard. Their season started not in April, but last summer. It’s great to see the smiles on their faces after this accomplishment.”
Roland-Story knew it had the potential for a state championship after placing fifth at last year’s 2A state tournament and second two years ago. With the return of fourth-place individual performer Makenna Carlson and the addition of her talented younger sister Brinley, the Norse had the talent to get over the top and they made it happen Thursday and Friday.
Roland-Story shot a 358 Thursday to take a five-stroke lead over defending champion Sumner-Fredericksburg. West Marshall, one Roland-Story’s top Heart of Iowa Conference rivals along with 3A state qualifier Nevada, was in third with a 369 and New Hampton fourth with a 371.
Day 2 saw Roland-Story get some distance from Sumner-Fredericksburg and New Hampton. But West Marshall made a nice charge.
In the end the Norse lead proved strong enough. They ended up beating West Marshall by eight strokes for the championship.
“They were dialed in and focused on reaching their goals,” Ammerman said. “It’s an awesome feeling.”
The Carlson sisters were outstanding both days.
Makenna shot an 81 Thursday and 82 Friday to finish fourth individually for the second year in a row with a 163. Makenna tied Tipton’s Paycee Sorgenfrey for the third-lowest score, but she lost a card-back for third.
The Norse junior parred 19 holes during the tournament.
Brinley finished seventh with a score of 172. She carded an 85 Thursday and 87 Friday, parring nine holes and also coming up with three birdies.
“The Carlsons are special,” Ammerman said. “They want the best for each other, but they are very competitive.”
More: Sibling synergy: What makes the Lorhbach and Carlson sisters thrive on the golf course
Brooke Thompson had rounds of 96 and 97 to place 36th with a 193 and Grace Corcoran carded a 195 with rounds 96 and 99 to place 42nd for the Norse. Abby Cook placed 45th with a 198 and Gabriella Wakefield and Eva Corcoran split the final spot, with Wakefield shooting a 109 Thursday and Corcoran a 104 Friday.
As good as Roland-Story was at this year’s 2A state tournament, the Norse could be even better in 2024. They bring back their entire state lineup.
“They are going to take this in and enjoy it,” Ammerman said, “but there is no doubt in my mind they’ll be back on the course over the next couple of days.”
Sumner-Fredericksburg’s Chloe Bolte repeated as 2A individual state medalist with a 152. Olivia Hines of Mediapolis was medalist runner-up with a 162.
Ames rallies to place ninth at the 4A girls state golf tournament
After the first day of the Class 4A girls state golf tournament Ames found itself in last place.
Little Cyclone coach RJ Voss, finally able to join up with the team after a leg injury kept in the hospital for most of the season, was ready to give his girls a speech letting them know there was nothing wrong with finishing 10th, and that just being at state was a huge accomplishment.
But instead, Ames managed to pull off a small surprise. Despite entering Friday’s competition at the Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny 14 strokes behind North Scott, the Little Cyclones rallied to move past the Lancers and finish ninth.
“I’m very proud of how they came back,” Voss said. “They played so much better today. Just to move up one spot may not seem like a big deal, but it is. These girls showed some grit.”
Ames moved into ninth by taking an impressive 24 strokes off their opening day score. The Little Cyclones went from 370 over the first 18 holes to 346 Friday, finishing with a 36-hole score of 716 to beat North Scott by one stroke.
Individually, sophomore Elizabeth Duncan stepped up with a big performance at state for the second year in a row.
Duncan came in 21st last year with a 170. She bettered that in 2023, shooting a 158 to place 14th.
“She loves Otter Creek,” Voss said. “She had a wonderful attitude and she shot the best round she’s ever shot Thursday.”
Duncan carded a 78 over the first 18 holes Thursday. She was close to that score Friday, finishing with an 80.
“She made a lot of good putts,” Voss said. “She also made several good shots.”
Duncan had one birdie each day. She shot par on nine holes Thursday and seven Friday.
More: How a sophomore trio has the Ames girls golf team looking like a contender for the state tournament
Duncan’s sophomore classmate Emersen Motl was the other Little Cyclone who golfed at state last year.
Motl struggled at Otter Creek a year ago in tying for 48th place with a 188. She was slow out of the gate again Thursday, but regrouped to play much better Friday and finish 20th with a 166.
Motl went from shooting an 89 Thursday to a 77 Friday. She birdied her last two holes and that made the difference in Ames going from 10th to ninth place as a team.
Ames showed great balance behind the two sophomore leaders.
On Thursday sophomore Estelle Wong and junior Danielle Randick were the other two golfers to score after shooting a 100 and 103 respectively. Friday saw freshman Jessie Lohman and junior Leah Becker finish in Ames’ top four with respective rounds of 91 and 98.
“Leah improved quite a bit and Jessie shoots a 91 — she’s going to be a really good player,” Voss said. “Dani improved a bit too.”
For the tournament Lohman took 53rd with a 194, Becker 62nd and Wong 63rd with identical scores of 205 and Randick 65th with a 207.
This season’s state tournament is just a building block for the Ames girls. Like with Roland-Story, the Little Cyclones return everybody next season.
Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp was the 4A medalist after shooting an impressive two-under score of 140 with two rounds of 70. Rupp edged Cedar Rapids Washington’s Jane Petersen, who carded a 141 with rounds of 68 and 73.
Pleasant Valley won the 4A team title with a score of 641. Cedar Rapids Washington was a distant second with a 658.
Final 2A team scores (36 holes): 1. Roland-Story 358-365-723, 2. West Marshall 369-362-731, 3. New Hampton 371-366-737, 4. Sumner-Fredericksburg 363-375-738, 5. Central Lyon 371-369- 740, 6. Van Meter 378-371-749, 7. Mid-Prairie 379-372-751, 8. Beckman Catholic 392-384-776, 9. Oelwein 396-391-787, 10. West Lyon 420-420- 840.
Top 10 2A individual scores: 1. Chloe Bolte (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 75-77-152, 2. Olivia Hines (Mediapolis) 80-82-162, 3. Paycee Sorgenfrey (Tipton) 83-80-163, 4. Makenna Carlson (Roland-Story) 81-82-163, 5. Kendra Casey (Sioux Central) 79-85-164, 6. Lauren Nuss (New Hampton) 87-84-171, 7. Brinley Carlson (Roland-Story) 85-87-172, 8 .Allie Pfantz (West Marshall) 90-83-173, 9. Mariah Gerleman (Central Lyon) 89-85-174, 10. Morgan Krall (Jesup) 91-84-175.
Final 4A team scores: 1. Pleasant Valley 322-319-641, 2. Cedar Rapids Washington 328-330-658, 3. West Des Moines Valley 338-325-663, 4. Southeast Polk 334-333-667, 5. Western Dubuque 345-324 -649, 6. Linn-Mar 341-331-672, 7. Cedar Falls 340-340-680, 8. Waukee Northwest 348-359-707, 9. Ames 370-346-716, 10. North Scott 356-361 -717.
Top 10 4A individual scores: 1. Morgan Rupp (Linn-Mar) 70-70-140, 2. Jane Petersen (Cedar Rapids Washington) 68-73-141, 3. Maura Peters (Pleasant Valley) 71-73-144, 4. Lauren Briggs (Burlington ) 71-74-145, 5. Hallie Yates (Valley) 78-69-147, 6. Isabelle Steele (Pleasant Valley) 71-77-148, 7. Addie Berg (Cedar Rapids Prairie) 74-76-150, 8 .Rylin Davidson (Southeast Polk) 73-77-150, 9. Natalie Henson 76-75-151, 10. Saleah Vivanh Vong (Des Moines East/North) 76-76-152.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Roland-Story wins 2A girls state golf title, Ames is ninth in 4A