Full-strength Cedar Rapids Washington rolls to MVC Super Meet team title

CEDAR RAPIDS — They all showed up and showed out.

The Cedar Rapids Washington girls’ golf team showed the potential of its best lineup.

The Warriors had their top team available and carded a total of 322, winning the title at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet on Monday at Ellis Golf Course. Washington topped runner-up Western Dubuque by eight strokes, while Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp shot 1-under 71 for medalist honors.

“It’s nice to see them playing their game,” Washington assistant coach Ronnie Blocklinger said. “They’re having fun.”

The Warriors’ Mya Messenger placed third with 76 and Jane Petersen was two shots back for fifth. Messenger and Lily Belle Barker juggle both varsity golf and tennis in the spring, causing some scheduling conflicts.

Everybody was on hand.

“I think we have great potential and we’re firing on all cylinders and at full strength,” Messenger said. “We’ve all been working really hard over the winter.

“It also helps that we’re a tight-knit group. We’ve brought everyone in and all were firing today on our A-Game.”

Good camaraderie and strong chemistry also play a big part in success. The relationships extend beyond rounds, putting greens and driving ranges. Petersen said her best friends are on the team and most of the golfers have fun together on the course.

“It’s not just best team score-wise,” Petersen said. “I think we have a great team connection. I love the girls.”

Messenger, listed as the team’s No. 3 golfer, led Washington this round. She tallied three birdies, including the Nos. 11 and 16 holes for an even-par 36 on the back nine.

Attention to her short game allowed her to perform well, despite the chilly and windy conditions.

“I know my teammates and I have been out weekends and after practice and stayed late to focus on our short game — our putting and chipping,” Messenger said. “I really worked hard on that and focused on that today to convert on a lot of birdie putts and getting up and down better than I have been.

“I got up and down a lot on the back nine. I had a couple birdies that helped my round. I gave myself a little cushion to where if I did bogey I wouldn’t have too much stress.”

Washington placed all four of its scorers in the top 15 of the individual standings. In addition to Messenger and Petersen in the top five, Barker posted an 83 for 12th and freshman Shaylin Munson rounded out the foursome with an 85.

“At this point, I think we can make a run for state,” said Petersen, who was the Class 4A state runner-up last season. “It’s just really exciting to have four scores and a fifth, if we need it, which is amazing.”

Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp is MVC Super Meet medalist

Rupp shared medalist honors with Messenger at the MVC Super Meet a year ago. She was the only golfer to break 75, sinking an 8-foot putt on her final hole and breaking par.

“The difference between even par and 1-under is quite a bit,” the Lions’ 2023 4A state champion said. “It feels like it’s more than one stroke, at least. I told myself to make this. End with a birdie and you’ll feel better about your round.”

It was the second of bookend birdies to her round. She birdied No. 16 to start the meet. She added two more on the front, notching birdies on the Nos. 5 and 9.

Rupp won by four strokes over Iowa City Liberty’s runner-up Isabella Pettersen. The field had eight of the top 25 ranked golfers, according to Bound’s combined adjusted averages.

“I feel like this is a really good win for me,” Rupp said. “There are a lot of really good players in this meet. The field is stacked. I’m proud of the score I put up.”

Mississippi Valley Conference girls’ golf Super Meet

At Ellis Golf Course

(Par 72)

Teams – 1. C.R. Washington 322, 2. Western Dubuque 330, 3. Dubuque Wahlert 339, 4. Cedar Falls 340, 5. Linn-Mar 344, 6. C.R. Xavier 363, 7. Iowa City High 374, 8. Iowa City Liberty 375, 9. Dubuque Senior 381, 10. Waterloo West 390, 11. C.R. Prairie 406, 12. Iowa City West 415, 13. Dubuque Hempstead 417, 14. C.R. Kennedy 470, 15. C.R. Jefferson 471

Individuals – 1. Morgan Rupp (LM), 71, 2. Isabella Pettersen (ICL), 75, 3. Mya Messenger (CRW), 76, 4. Molly Ratchford (CF), 77, 5. Jane Petersen (CRW), 78

C.R. WASHINGTON (322): Messenger 76, Petersen 78, Lily Belle Barker 83, Shaylin Munson 85

LINN-MAR (344): Rupp 71, Gabby Mercure 90, Jayden Schumacher 91, Riya Anand 92

C.R. XAVIER (363): Mehar Julka 80, Meehar Julka 89, Lauren Kram 95, Josie Kramer 99

CITY HIGH (374): Haleigh Nelson 84, Hannah Cronk 92, Tully Campion 97, Olivia Neuzil 101

I.C. LIBERTY (375): Pettersen 75, Leona Rupp 91, Ella Burns 104, Sydney Hested 105

C.R. PRAIRIE (406): Kylie Wachtl 80, Morgan Burhans 96, Malian Armour 115, Millie Manternach 115

I.C. WEST (415): Whitney Noeller 101, Gretchen Van Iddekinge 102, Sophie Bodin 105, Lily Schmid 107

C.R. KENNEDY (470): Ellie Nurre 85, Aliya Ballard 117, Audrey Ingraham 130, Paige Maas 138

C.R. JEFFERSON (471): Ava Erger 104, Rachel Johnson 113, Peyton Kindrade 125, Kiyaree Cooper 129, Aiyana Moeller 129

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