April 30, 2024

Newton’s Fitzgerald hits an eagle in dual meet

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton’s Jessie Smith strikes a short putt during a home competition. On Monday, the Cardinal girls hosted Iowa City High’s Little Hawks in an 18-hole dual at Westwood Golf Course. (Jocelyn Sheets)

On one of the best days of weather for the spring golf season, Newton High’s girls and visiting Iowa City High’s Little Hawks played shot for shot Monday at Westwood Golf Course.

The Cardinals are ranked No. 8 in Class 4A and Iowa City High is ranked No. 10 in Class 5A by the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association. The Little Hawks’ Sarah Overton is ranked No. 14 in 4A and the Cardinals’ Jessica Reynolds stands at No. 22 in 4A.

“It was a great day to play golf, and we had a very competitive dual,” Newton head coach Scott Enyart said about the 18-hole competition.

Iowa City won the dual — 391-392 — over Newton. Overton was the meet medalist with an 84 with Reynolds the runner-up with a 90. Reynolds recorded nine pars for the day on rounds of 46 and 44.

Newton’s Emily Fitzgerald posted the first eagle at Westwood by a NHS girl golfer since 2011. Fitzgerald’s eagle came on Westwood’s No. 9 hole, which is a par 5.

“Emily powered her tee shot to the 150-yard marker than hit the ball to the middle of the green. That left her with a 15-foot putt, which she drained,” Enyart said. “It’s only the fifth eagle recorded by a NHS player. Emily had a heck of a stretch as she parred holes 10 and 11.”

Fitzgerald finished the front nine holes with a 44, which tied her personal-best nine hole score on her home course. She had a round of 51 on the back nine for a total of 95.

Also posting a 95 for the meet was Jessie Smith, which tied her personal-best 18-hole score. Smith carded a personal-best home 46 on the front nine holes and finished with a 49 on the back nine.

Alayna Reynolds shot a 112 (58-54) to complete the team scoring for Newton. Taylor Dydell fired a season’s-best 52 on the front nine and had a second round of 63 for a 115. Lizzy Coyle finished with a 119 on rounds of 64 and 55.

The Cardinals are back on the Westwood course at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday for a triangular with Pella and Winterset. It is a Little Hawkeye Conference dual between Newton and Pella, which is ranked No. 5 in 4A.

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