Panthers, Kramer are River Valley champs

     Check one goal off the list.

     Dru Kramer won the individual championship, and the Monticello High School girls golf team rolled to a 20-stroke victory to win the River Valley Conference Tournament May 5 at Muscatine.

     “I’m happy for the girls,” Monticello coach Doug Ries said. “Winning the River Valley Conference was one of the goals they had set before the season.”

     Kramer shot 43-42–85 to become the individual conference champion, winning by two strokes over Alli Nash of Tipton. Teammate Beka Prull finished fifth with a 100, and the Panthers totaled 398 strokes. Anamosa was second with 418, and West Branch was third with 419.

     “Dru played great all day,” coach Ries said. “She had a couple tough holes on the front nine, but recovered nicely. After nine, she was down one to Alli Nash. She got the lead on 10 and led the rest of the way.”

     Jaelyn Aitchison shot 104 and Karli Recker had 109 to round out the Panther totals that counted in the team score. Tori McDonald came in with a 117, and Kylee Van Dorn had a 126.

     Kramer and Prull were named to the Elite All-Conference team by finishing in the top six. Aitchison made the North Division team, and Recker was given Honorable Mention.

     “Beka hit her driver really well, which is something she’s really been working on,” the coach said. “She’s really close to putting it all together.

     “Jaelyn was great, playing in her first conference tournament. She’s got a lot of natural ability and will continue to improve with experience. Karli put together another nice round. She does a good job staying out of trouble and continues to improve around the green.”

     Monticello’s regional golf tournament will be Monday, May 24 at Springbrook Country Club in DeWitt. Unlike past years, when there would be a first round regional and then a regional final tournament, this year’s regional is all on that one day.

May 5

River Valley Conf. Meet

(at Muscatine)

TEAM CARDS

     1, Monticello 398; 2, Anamosa 418; 3, West Branch 419; 4, Durant 427; 5, Wilton 455; 6, Cascade 456; 7, Mid-Prairie 458*; 8, Tipton 458; 9, North Cedar 462*; 10, Northeast 462; 11, West Liberty 473; 12, Iowa City Regina 487; 13, Camanche 527; 14, Bellevue 548.

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Dru Kramer 43-42–85 (medalist), Beka Prull 50-50–100 (fifth place), Jaelyn Aitchison 51-53– 104; Karli Recker 52-57–109, Tori McDonald 54-63–117, Kylee Van Dorn 63-63–126.

MHS ALL-CONFERENCE

     Elite: Dru Kramer, Beka Prull.

     North Division: Jaelyn Aitchison.

     Honorable mention: Karli Recker.