Waukee Girls' Golf Team Heads to State Championship

Submitted by Chris McLinden*

On Monday, while the rest of Waukee High School was still celebrating the Waukee Girls' Class 4A track championship from last weekend, stressing out over finals and looking forward to summer (or in the seniors' case – preening for graduation and looking forward to the rest of their life), the Waukee High School girls golf team went out to Beaver Creek Golf Course in Grimes for their 4A State Qualifier and did what they have been doing all year – win.

The Lady Warriors, for the most part, have been dominating their opponents all season and setting school records in the process.  Among them are:

*Low 9 hole score 155 strokes (+15 over par)
*Payton Minear (Junior) is closing in on the most pars in one season
*Most tournament wins
*Undefeated dual meet season

Coach Marty Sullivan, whose team lost the state championship by one stroke two years ago to Ames High School and finished third last year to eventual state champ Cedar Falls is feeling confident, without being cocky.

“It has been a great year so far," said Sullivan. "The girls are playing well. If they all play their best on the same day we are going to be very hard to beat. Our top six right now are Payton Minear (JR), Kelsy Shay (SOPH), Brittany Best (JR), Jasmine Wyzgowski (SOPH), Hannah Dammen (JR), Allie Oder (JR) and Caitie Oder (SOPH). Cedar Falls is ahead of us in the state rankings right now and there are a couple of other teams playing really well towards the end of the season. If the girls play well we should have a good shot at a state title.”

Sullivan (or “Sully” as he is known in Waukee Golf parlance) credited off season work for their success.

“Sugar Creek, Waukee’s city owned nine-hole golf course and home to the Warriors practice and home meets, has been a large influence on our success. Jim Webb (head golf pro at Sugar Creek) and his staff have been very supportive of our program. They hold junior golf clinics, winter programs and the occasional quick fix from one of the pros. Some of the girls do work with Sugar and others have club pros they work with as well as Golftec.”

Look for the Waukee girls linksters at Class 4A Iowa Girls Athletic Union State Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course on May 29 & 30 as they fight for the number one spot in the state. Don’t be surprised if the result is like the rest of the season – a Waukee win.

*the author is a former Waukee golf parent whose daughter, Natalie McLinden, played for the Lady Warriors for four years before graduating in 2010.