CEDAR FALLS – After toying with its competition all season, the Gilbert girls golf team took it to another level during the Class 3A state girls golf tournament Thursday and Friday at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course.
Gilbert set a new 3A record with a team score of 608 through 36 holes to beat Wahlert Catholic by 43 strokes for its second straight state championship. The Tigers were especially dominant on Friday, becoming the first team in state history to shoot under 300 for 18 holes in a single day of state tournament competition by tying their school’s 18-hole mark at 299.
Members of the Gilbert girls’ golf team celebrate with their 2024 Class 3A state championship trophy after repeating as state champions with a 3A record score of 608 in 36 holes during the 3A girls’ state golf tournament Friday at the golf course. Pheasant Ridge at Cedar Falls. Iowa.
“That 299 is a big number for us today,” Gilbert coach Grant Walker said. “You couldn’t ask for a better ending for these seniors. “You couldn’t even write that story.”
After placing second in 3A during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Gilbert overcame the hurdle and won a 3A state title in 2023 after shooting a 653 at Pheasant Ridge to defeat Wahlert Catholic by 19 strokes for the title. With five of the top six returning from that team, Gilbert knew he had the potential to do something special in 2024.
But not even the Tiger senior quartet of Eden Lohrbach, Macy Underwood, Josie Dukes and Haley Loonan could have imagined how perfect their senior year was going to be.
Further: How Gilbert’s senior girls golf plan to make the most of their final season
They posted a perfect dual meet record during their four-year career, won the Raccoon River Conference meet by more than 100 strokes, broke 300 in an 18-hole meet for the first time in school history with a 299 in the 3A Region 2 meeting. in Atlántico. They saved the best for last with the best state meet performance among 3A teams in history.
“I expected us to do well, but I never expected it to go as well as it has,” Dukes said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
Nebraska women’s golf signee Eden Lohrbach was the linchpin of Gilbert’s incredible career.
Lohrbach won her third individual state title in four years on Friday. She shot a 5-under 139 with a 69 on Thursday and a 70 on Friday to take the 3A medalist by eight strokes over Clear Lake’s Meghan DeLong.
Gilbert’s Eden Lohrbach watches the ball after teeing off on the 9th hole in the final round of the 3A girls state golf tournament at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course on Friday, May 24, 2024 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Lohrbach won 3A individual medalist honors for the third time in four years with a score of 5-under 139 through 36 holes.
Out of 36 holes over the two days, Lohrbach birdied 11 and parred 19.
“I think it’s amazing,” Lohrbach said. “I worked hard, I know this team has and it’s a lot of fun to do this with them.”
During the 2023 3A state meet, Lohrbach shot a 1-under 143 to take the medalist by five strokes over DeLong. As a sophomore, she lost a playoff to Newton’s Rylee Heryford after they each shot a 149 at River Valley Golf Course in Adel, and as a freshman, Lohrbach shot a 149 at Adel to take the medalist by two hits over Washington’s Kiki Bruner.
“She’s a generational talent,” Walker said. “She is as talented as any golfer she has ever seen. She will outwork everyone, I know it without a doubt. “It has been a great pleasure, and a true honor, to be able to coach her during this time.”
Lohrbach’s twin sisters, Ava and Ella, both sophomores, each placed in the top 10 individually at the 2024 3A state meet.
Ava earned a fourth-place card over Lisbon’s Kaylie Kelchen after they each shot 154. She took 10th place with a 156.
Macy Underwood was 14th at 163 after shooting 86 on Thursday and shaving nine strokes off that score on Friday. In addition to playing on Friday, Underwood felt like he left something out on the field.
“I’m a little mad it wasn’t lower,” Underwood said. “It should have been lower. I started much better today than I finished. “I’m glad it was better than yesterday.”
Dukes placed 20th at 169 and senior Haley Loonan was 27th at 172. Although she was sixth in the individual team score, Loonan was instrumental in Gilbert earning the team-record score with a strong round of 82 on Thursday.
“It was amazing,” Loonan said. “It was a really good way to end my high school experience.”
Further: How tremendous depth makes the Gilbert women’s golf team seem unbeatable!
Walker was delighted to see his four seniors, Eden Lohrbach, Underwood, Dukes and Loonan, leave with the highest possible grade.
“The four of them worked very hard together for many years,” Walker said. “To see everything come together on the last day of the state meet and show everyone in the state who they are and why they are the best team, it’s really special.”
Gilbert women’s golf won’t be the same without that senior group. But the Lohrbach twins are eager to replace their older sister and see if they can lead the Tigers back to state in 2025.
“It will be fun,” Ella Lohrbach said. “Even with this group of people leaving, there is still a good group of people coming in. “It will be fun to see them step up.”
Nevada girls rank sixth in 3A
Nevada’s Reagan Schmidt looks at the ball after a putt on the 15th hole of the final round of the 3A women’s state golf tournament at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course on Friday, May 24, 2024 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Nevada women’s golf team placed sixth in 3A with a score of 707.
The Cubs shaved 29 strokes off their score of 736 in the 2023 state tournament at Pheasant Ridge. That allowed them to move up two spots after placing eighth in 3A last season.
“I’m so proud of our team this year,” said Olivia Axmear, a senior from Nevada. “Last year we felt like we were in the top five and we finished eighth. “I am happy that this year we are closer to the top.”
Axmear led Nevada by placing 13th individually with a 162. She scored a 78 on Thursday and an 84 on Friday.
Although she fell short of her goal of finishing in the top 10 individually, Axmear was pleased with how her senior season went. She finished an individual state qualifier three times after never having played golf before her first season at Nevada.
“I’m happy I had a good senior year,” Axmear said. “I’m happy to have made it this far.”
Reagan Schmidt ranked 35th at 178, Lauren Schmidt 40th at 183, Mary Hensley 42nd at 184, Mya Spykerman 47th at 194 and Caitlin Johnson 64th at 217 for the Cubs.
Final 3A Team Scores (36 Holes): 1. Gilbert 309-299-608, 2. Wahlert Catholic 325-326-651, 3. Cedar Rapids Xavier 349-336-685, 4. West Delaware 352-346-698, 5. Solon 355-350-705, 6 Nevada 351-356-707, 7. (tie) Clear Lake 360-358-718 and Williamsburg 370-348-718, 9. Waverly-Shell Rock 360-367-727, 10. Clear Creek-Amana (did not finish). ).
3A Individual Medal Winners (36 Holes): 1. Eden Lohrbach (Gilbert) 69-70-139, 2. Meghan DeLong (Clear Lake) 73-74-147, 3. Ava Kalb (Wahlert Catholic) 76-76-152, 4. Ava Lohrbach (Gilbert) 77- 77-154, 5. Kaylie Kelchen (Lisbon) 77-77-154, 6. Halle Sobaski (Benton Community) 83-72-155, 7. Maria Riveros (Decorah) 79-76-155, 8. Mehar Julka (Xavier ) 76-79-155, 10. Ella Lohrbach (Gilbert) 81-75-156.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared in the Ames Tribune: Record-breaking performance helps Gilbert repeat 3A girls golf title
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