Busy week for CL girls golf team; improve to 7-2

The Clear Lake girls golf team improved to 7-2 overall after a busy week.

CL 182, C-G 192, WC 210

On Tuesday April 22, the Lions played in Clarion against Clarion-Goldfield and Webster City. The Lions shot 182, Clarion-Goldfield 192 and Webster City 210. Clear Lake’s Emily Snelling was medalist with 38 and Erin Gates was runner-up medalist with 42. The other counting scores were Paige Backhaus with 45 and Maddie Hess and Maddy Hartnett both shot 57. Rebecca Long shot 61 for the Lions. 

“It was nice to finally be able to play golf in some warm weather,” noted Coach Adam Brinkman.  “Emily was hitting the ball really well, and only had one bad hole that cost her a couple extra strokes. Her driver was clicking and she was putting her iron shots in good enough positions to start with six straight pars. Maddy Hartnett is in her first year ever playing golf and for her to shoot 57 was a huge confidence booster for her.”

MC 201, CL 208, Newman 231

On Thursday, the Lions played against Mason City and Newman Catholic at the Mason City Country Club. The Mohawks won with a 201.  Clear Lake was next with a 208 and Newman shot 231.

Mason City’s Sydney Eaton and Clear Lake’s Paige Backhaus tied for the medalist honors with a 43, with Eaton winning a tie-breaker to win the individual honors.  Clear Lake’s Emily Snelling finished third with a 46.

Maddie Hess carded a 58 and Rebecca Long finished with a 61. The two non counting scores were Maddy Hartnett, 82, and Peyton Huey, 69.

“The conditions we played in were not ideal by any means for a golf meet. The course was completely under water and it was very cold and windy, but everyone had to play in the same conditions and Mason City was just able to come out on top,” said Coach Brinkman.  

The Lions were without their number three scorer, Erin Gates, but the younger, less experienced girls stepped up and gave it everything they could, added the coach.

“Paige Backhaus was hitting everything very well,” said Brinkman.  “She doesn’t hit the ball very far, but she will consistently hit it straight and that was a big asset for her in those conditions.”

Humboldt 190, CL 193

The Lions were at Humboldt Friday, April 25, for a North Central Conference dual. Humboldt edged the Lions, 190-193. 

Emily Snelling was runner-up medalist with a 41.  Paige Backhaus finished with a 46, Erin Gates had a 49, and Maddie Hess 57. The two non-counting scores were Rebecca Long, 62, and Maddy Hartnett, 71.

  “We played much better as a team than the day before (at Mason City) as we decreased 15 strokes from that meet, but we definitely left a few strokes out on the golf course,” said Coach Brinkman.  “Humboldt’s number one golfer shot a (-1) 35 and when someone does that, that is hard to beat. Losing by only three strokes was hard on the girls because they all know they can each think of three strokes that they wish they would have gotten back. We lost our concentration on the little things, and those are the things that are going to be most important when it comes tournament time.”