Ames continues moving up the ladder and Roland-Story fell just shy of a repeat state championship during the 2024 Iowa high school girls state golf tournaments Thursday and Friday.
Ames took sixth during the Class 4A meet held at the Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. Roland-Story fell five strokes out of first in taking second during 2A girls state tournament at the Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Boone.
Ames shot a 660 over 36 holes. The Little Cyclones finished with a 331 over the first 18 holes on Thursday, and they cut two strokes off that score on Friday.
“I was very happy with finishing sixth,” said Ames coach RJ Voss. “That’s where we were ranked. We would’ve liked to have gotten fifth, but we’ll settle for sixth.”
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Ames beat its 2023 state score at Otter Creek by 56 strokes.
Emersen Motl had her best state tournament to date in placing 17th individually with a 157. Motl carded a 78 over the first 18 holes on Thursday and 79 on Friday.
“You shoot under 80 both days of the tournament, I’ll take that any day of the week,” Voss said. “She showed great improvement over the last couple of years.
Motl tied for 48th in 4A a freshman in 2022 with a 188 and she took 20th last year with a 166.
2024 newcomer Macy Button placed second on the team and 32nd overall with a 164 after recording two 18-hole rounds of 82. Elizabeth Duncan came 36th with a 165 after carding an 82 on Thursday and 83 on Friday and senior Leah Becker finished 45th with a 176 after shooting a 91 on Thursday and shaving six strokes off that score on Friday.
Jessie Lohman finished 49th with a 182 and Estelle Wong 53rd with a 184.
Becker is the only senior leaving Ames after this season. That leaves the Little Cyclones in great shape heading into 2025.
“It’s a great group of girls,” Voss said. “We’re going to miss Leah, but I’m looking forward to next year.”
Pleasant Valley repeated as 4A team champions with a score of 627. Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp defended her 4A medalist title after shooting a 137 to beat Iowa City Liberty’s Isabella Pettersen by three strokes
Roland-Story places in 2A top five for the fourth year in a row
Roland-Story followed up last year’s 2A state title with a runner-up trophy at the 2A girls state golf meet.
The Norse shot a 679 as a team over 36 holes to easily top their 2023 state score of 723 at the American Legion course in Marshalltown. Roland-Story had nearly identical 18-hole rounds of 339 and 340.
The tremendous consistency was not quite enough to get Roland-Story another state championship. Sumner-Fredericksburg won the 2A title with a team score of 674.
“Proud of these ladies for a great run at it this year,” said Roland-Story coach Larry Ammerman. “To go back-to-back is very difficult! They have had a target on their back all season, and they have fought and competed all season long!”
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Sophomore Brinley Carlson stepped up to lead Roland-Story during the 2024 2A state tournament. Carlson carded an 80 on Thursday and 82 on Friday to finish 18 over par and place sixth overall with a two-day, 36-hole score of 162.
Carlson’s older sister Makenna placed in the top 10 individually for the fourth year in a row. Carlson took 10th with a 167 after turning in 18-hole rounds of 84 and 83.
Brooke Thompson gave Roland-Story three golfers in the top 20. Thompson ended up 16th with a 171 after shooting an 83 on Thursday and 88 on Friday.
Grace Corcoran took 33rd with a score of 185 and Gabriella Wakefield finished 41st with a 36-hole round of 191 for the Norse. Abby Cook ended up 43rd after shooting a 193.
“Fun group of ladies to coach,” Ammerman said. “Their parents should be very proud!”
Sumner-Fredericksburg’s Chloe Bolte won 2A individual medalist honors for the third year in a row. Bolte ran away with the 2A individual title after shooting a 6-under-par score of 138 to outlast New Hampton’s Lauren Nuss and Oelwein’s Grace Lewis by 19 strokes for first.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames, Roland-Story fare well during girls state golf tournaments