Panthers ride strong back nine, Kramer's play to punch ticket to State

     With a runner-up finish in the Class 3A Regional Girls Golf Meet, the Monticello Panthers have qualified for the state tournament.

     The Panthers totaled 395 to finish second to Dubuque Wahlert (378). Both teams earned a trip to State for being the top two at the regional meet, which was held Monday, May 24 at Springbrook Country Club  in DeWitt.

     “They just kept grinding,” Monticello coach Doug Ries said. “A few of them got off to rough starts, and they just kept plugging away. I’m just happy for the girls.”

     Dru Kramer shot an 86 to tie for first place, but earned medalist honors thanks to a cardback tie-breaker.

     It will be Monticello’s fourth-ever state tournament appearance, and the third in the past six seasons. The Panthers also made State in 1984, 2015 and 2018 (there was no season in 2020).

     It will be the third state trip for Kramer, a senior. She was part of the 2018 squad that made it, and qualified individually in 2019.

     “The only thing that kept her from having a chance to play (at State) last year was COVID,” Ries said.

     Kramer said she drove the ball well Monday, and putted well on the way to the title.

     “I hit the majority of the fairways. And I made some really long putts that saved me,” Kramer said.

     Beka Prull finished ninth with a 96, Karli Recker shot 101, Tori McDonald had 111, Jaelyn Aitchison had 114, and Kylee Van Dorn shot 133.

     “We all just knew what we had to do,” Prull said. “I think we were very confident, and that helped a lot.”

     Kramer added: “Karli Recker played excellent; she really stepped up. Beka improved on the back nine.”

     “We were probably in third place after the front nine,” coach Ries said. “We came back on the back nine and shot better. They did what they needed to do.”

     The Panthers are scheduled to play in the state tournament Tuesday and Wednesday, June 1 and 2, at River Valley Golf Course in Adel.

CP-U meet

     Prior to the regional meet, the Panthers played a home meet against Center Point-Urbana May 17, and won 184 to 219. Prull was meet medalist and Kramer was second, each with 44.

     “We celebrated Senior Night with a good win over CP-U,” Ries said. “The four seniors all played well, with their scores counting toward the team total.

     “It was also nice seeing so many family members and friends out watching them play.”

     The junior varsity Panthers lost 267 to 269. Piper Hansen led Monticello with a 62, good for second place.

May 17

Monticello 184,

Ctr. Pt.-Urbana 219

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Beka Prull 44 (medalist), Dru Kramer 44 (runner-up), Tori McDonald 48, Karli Recker 48, Jaelyn Aitchison 49, Kylee Van Dorn 59.

JUNIOR VARSITY RESULT

     Center Point-Urbana 267, Monticello 269. Monticello cards: Piper Hansen 62 (runner-up), Lacie Koppes 68, Courtney Thies 69, Kayla King 70, Lake Schnoor 76. Medalist: Trista Kula, CP-U, 60.

May 24

Class 3A Regional Meet

(at Springbrook C.C,

DeWitt)

TEAM CARDS

(State qualifiers in bold)

     1, Dubuque Wahlert 378; 2, Monticello 395; 3, Central DeWitt 407; 4, Cedar Rapids Xavier 410.

MONTICELLO CARDS

     Dru Kramer 86 (medalist), Beka Prull 96 (ninth place), Karli Recker 101, Tori McDonald 111, Jaelyn Aitchison 114, Kylee Van Dorn 133.