March 28, 2024

Newton’s Reynolds heads back to 4A state golf meet

State golf tickets punched for four Jasper County prep girls

MARSHALLTOWN — Alayna Reynolds was on familiar ground Monday. She’ll be on familiar ground next week at the Iowa Class 4A State Girls Golf Tournament. Both courses are in Marshalltown.

On Monday for the Class 4A Region 3 tournament, Reynolds and the Newton High Cardinals were playing the American Legion Golf Course. The Cardinals were not in the running for a team spot for the state tournament, but they turned in strong individual performances.

Reynolds led the way as she claimed the eighth-place medal at the regional tournament. In doing so, she secured her second straight trip to the 4A state meet at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown. She finished 12th at the 2017 Class 4A state meet played at Elmwood.

Reynolds had even rounds of 45 and 45 to record her 18-hole score of 90. Cedar Falls won the team title at the regional placing three golfers in the top eight, including regional medalist Megan Sawer at 79 and runner-up Amara Lyle with an 84.

Southeast Polk with a 356 took the runner-up team spot to qualify for the state tournament. The top two teams and top eight individuals from each regional advance to state.

Thea Lunning of Mason City shot an 84 for third place. Three golfers — Marshalltown’s Kassy Vest, SEP’s Miranda Fickbohm and Cedar Falls’ Grace Considine — each shot an 87. Mary Smith of Waterloo West had an 89 for seventh place.

“We’re all so happy for Alayna. Going in I wanted us to shoot below 400 as a team and finish no lower than fifth,” Newton head coach Scott Enyart said. “Well, we were fifth and we shot a 402 — not bad.

“I’m so proud of these young ladies and their dedication to the game. I’m ecstatic about how we played as a team in the regional. We will have five golfers returning for next year and a solid eighth-grader coming up.”

Newton’s 402 was fifth behind Dallas Center-Grimes with a team-record 381 for third and Marshalltown with a 381. Mason City took sixth at 411 followed by Waterloo East at 466, Waterloo West at 470 and Des Moines East at 486.

Three of the returners for Newton have been freshmen who have played varsity meets this season, Freshman Abby Price was the No. 2 golfer on the day for Newton with a 101 on round of 52 and 49.

Freshman Bekah Vasseau shot a personal-best 105 (55-50) and the 50 was a personal-best nine hole score for her. Also shooting a personal-best 18-hole score was sophomore Jordon Pritchard with a 106 (54-52).

The two non-counting scores for the Cardinals were a 109 by junior Arieal Lum (56-53) and a 113 by freshman Victoria Reynolds (58-55).

“I’m very pleased for Alayna but also pleased for our team that Alayna will be representing us as a team at state,” Enyart said. “Alayna doesn’t hit it as far as other golfers, but she plays her game and gets good results.

“She got off to a great start today then played her consistent game. She was able to work through the longer holes on the course, which are holed three through six, and that was key for her putting herself in a position to qualify for state.”

Enyart said senior Taylor Dydell, who has missed the last half of the season with an injury, has been the team’s biggest support. He said he was proud of her for coming to all the practices and meets when she could get to them.

“She sent a text after the round today to just see how things were going. That’s priceless. This has been a fun year for me as a coach with this group,” Enyart said.

The state meet is May 29-30 at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com