Newton girls end golf season at regionals

WEST DES MOINES — Playing at a Class 4A regional tournament that featured a team with the top 18-hole average in the class, the Newton girls golf team had an uphill battle to grab one of the two state qualifying spots at Willow Creek Golf Course.

But the fact that Ames and Norwalk shot significantly under their top-10 ranked averages on Wednesday made the battle even more difficult and the Cardinals’ season ended after a sixth-place finish.

“We didn’t play our best golf today, but we definitely didn’t play our worst golf either,” Newton head girls golf coach Nicole George said. “We were able to end with another round under 400, which is what we’ve been shooting for all season.”

Newton shot right at its season average of 380 and was six shots back of fifth-place Des Moines Roosevelt (374).

Ames, which has the top 18-hole average in 4A, won the Region 1 championship with a 312. Norwalk was the other state qualifier as it shot a 331.

The top two teams and the top six individuals plus ties advance to the state tournament. Ames and Norwalk took five of the six individual spots, too. Council Bluffs Lewis Central’s Chloe Perfect grabbed the other state-qualifying shot after shooting a 79.

It took an 80 to advance as an individual. Newton’s Johana Cerna shot an 84 in 10th.

“(Cerna) played a great round,” George said. “She tied for eighth, but with the cardback ended up in 10th. It was a good round for her to end her United States high school golf career on.”

Host West Des Moines Valley finished third with a 366 and Dowling Catholic (369) completed the top five. Council Bluffs Lewis Central (391), Sioux City East (427) and Sioux City North (459) finalized the field and Sioux City West did not have enough golfers for a team score.

“With our last Friday meet getting canceled, it has been over a week since we played in a competition, and I could tell we weren’t exactly in our groove,” George said. “Which is a bummer, since we shot our season best our previous meet, and I was hoping to continue that momentum.

“But, life happens and we have to learn to roll with the punches and all things considered, the girls did the best they could do, and I’m proud of them. I hope they left the course today with no regrets for the 2025 season.”

Ames finished with the top three individuals. Macy Button was the meet medalist with a 75 and Elizabeth Duncan was the runner-up with a 75.

Norwalk, which has the ninth-best average in 4A, put its four scoring golfers in the top 15.

Cerna shot 43 on the front nine and 41 on the back.

Evie Main (94), Addie Ratcliff (97) and Addie Hook (105) had the other counting scores for Newton. Kalleigh Berndt (108) and Eva Pak (108) posted non-counting scores.

The Cardinals’ roster will lose Main, Hook, Berndt and Pak to graduation and Cerna is a foreign exchange student from the Czech Republic.

“Although our season has come to an end, it hasn’t really hit me yet that it’s over,” George said. “Most of these seniors have been my starting varsity since I took over being head coach three years ago, which makes it very hard to see them go.

“They have been with me since I was just starting to figure this gig out, seen me through mistakes and mishaps and given me the grace I needed in order to become a more confident coach. I can only hope that I was able to give the same back to them. All four are incredible girls, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of them.”