Iowa's best high school girls golfers: Meet the state's top sophomores
By Barry Poe
As the Iowa high school spring golf season winds down, we are taking a look at some of the top girls performers. Today, we highlight the sophomores. This is not a comprehensive list as there are many outstanding prep golfers in Iowa.
Chloe Bolete, Sumner-Fredericksburg
Bolte captured the Class 1A state individual title as a freshman, shooting 75-74—149 at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls. She won a one-hole playoff with Molly Fereday of Waterloo Columbus and in doing so, helped Sumner-Fredericksburg win the team title.
Morgan Rupp, Linn-Mar
Rupp tied for fifth in the Class 4A state meet, carding 76-78—164 at Otter Creek in Ankeny. She has already fired a 73 this season to win the Marshalltown Invitational and averages 78.17 for 18 holes. Rupp’s father, Brian, was a state runner-up medalist and member of a state championship team at Cedar Rapids Regis.
Jane Peterson, Cedar Rapids Washington
Another talented sophomore from the Cedar Rapids area, Peterson tied for 12th in the 4A state meet with a 169. As a freshman, she was the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division runner-up and medalist in the MVC super meet. This season, she ranks first among sophs with a 38.80 nine-hole average and averages 81.65 per 18-hole round.
Natalie Henson, Marshalltown
Henson posted a career-low 3-under-par 68 in the Linda Bloom Invitational at the American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown last week. She tied for 22nd in the 4A state meet as a freshman and averages 38.85 for nine holes and 78.53 for 18 this season.
Elizabeth Duncan, Ames
Duncan tied for 21st in the 4A state meet with a pair of 85s as a freshman last season. She currently ranks 23rd for the best combined adjusted average in the state with a 45.45. Along with classmates Emersen Motl and Estelle Wong, the Little Cyclones thinking big this season.
Molly Ratchford, Cedar Falls
Ratchford boasts the third-lowest nine-hole average among sophomores with a 40.80. She also shoots an average of 82.70 for 18 holes and finished 17th in the 4A state meet last season, shooting 85-79. Ratchford won the Metro girls meet as a freshman and shot 78 in the first round last week.
Audrey Overgaard, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
Overgaard was a 20th-place finisher in the 2A state meet last season, bettering her first-round effort by nine shots in the second round. She has a nine-hole average of 45.20 with a combined adjusted average of 46.0.
Shanel Sayre, West Des Moines Valley
Sayre wound up tied for 22nd in the 4A state meet as a freshman, shooting 81 in the second round. Valley won the team title, its 13th overall and third in the last four seasons. Sayre has a nine-hole average of 45.85 and averages 94.03 for 18.
CeCe Ball, Western Dubuque
Western Dubuque was fifth in the 4A state tournament last season and returned three of its four starters, including Ball, who tied for 28th individually. She has a combined adjusted average of 45.54 and has shot a low of 38.
Gaby Estabrook, Marshalltown
Estabrook was a varsity regular as a freshman for Marshalltown, tying for 40th in the 4A state meet. She has averaged 46.85 for nine holes and 93.03 for 18 this season.
Emerson Motl, Ames
Motl was one of two freshmen on the Ames team to qualify for the 4A state meet last season. She has the team’s best 18-hole scoring average of 87.72 and combined adjusted mark of 43.84. She was fourth in the Turk Bowman Invitational.
Elliana Danielsen, Pleasant Valley
Danielsen ranks fourth among sophomores with a 40.95 nine-hole scoring average. Pleasant Valley is ranked first in 4A by the Iowa Golf Coaches Association.
Lauren Nuss, New Hampton
Nuss is seventh among sophomores with a 43.31 nine-hole average and 43.69 combined adjusted average. She led New Hampton to the Northeast Iowa Conference title as a freshman last season.
Camryn Overton, Indianola
Overton got plenty of experience for the Indianola varsity as a freshman and has averages of 48.20 for nine holes and 92.55 for 18 thus far this season.
Sydney Dee, Solon
Solon recently set a school record by shooting 341 in the Spartan Invitational at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon. Dee shot 84 and averages 48.37 per nine holes with a 48.29 combined adjusted average.
Bretlyn Decker, Central City
Decker has a 47.30 nine-hole average and has medaled at several dual meets already this season.
Cora Eckhoff, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Eckhoff has posted five nine-hole rounds into the books thus far this season, averaging 48.40. She finished fifth in the Sioux City East Invitational.
Madison Hilts, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
SB-L has one of the top teams in the Sioux City-metro area and Missouri River Conference. Hilts is contributing a 53.33 nine-hole average and recently finished ninth at the Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln Invite. She was the top finishing freshman in the conference meet last season.
Paige Franzen, Nashua-Plainfield
Franzen has averaged 48.14 in nine nine-hole-rounds this season. She was ranked No. 10 in Class 1A individually by the Iowa Golf Coaches Association.
Brynn Knaus, Red Oak
Knaus has a combined adjusted average of 50.99 this season. She was a top 10 finisher in the Hawkeye 10 Conference meet as a freshman and has medaled in a couple of meets this season.
Addison Farrell, Easton Valley
Farrell ranks among the top 20 sophomores with a combined adjusted average of 47.21. She averages 46.90 for nine holes and 95.20 for 18.
Estelle Wong, Ames
Wong just started golfing last season, but has proven she is a natural. She wong medalist honors at the Urbandale triangular to start the season and has added 12th and 14th places in tournament play.
Reese Lucas, Indianola
Lucas is part of a young Indianola squad this season, with a combined adjusted average of 49.71. She has consistently been the No. 2 player on the team behind classmate Camryn Overton, averaging 48.87 for nine holes.
Ava Erger, Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Erger shoots an average of 46.85 over 18 holes and 96.75 per 18-hole round. She is the No. 1 player in a young Jefferson lineup of two sophomores and two juniors.
Claire Franzwa, Iowa City Liberty
Franzwa has averaged 49.23 and 94.55 in a combined five posted rounds for Liberty this season. Her nine-hole low is 47 and she has carded a 91 for 18 holes.
