The Highland Huskies are heading back to the girls’ golf state tournament after finishing second as a team at yesterday’s Class 1A Region 4 finals at Prairie Knolls Country Club in New Sharon.

Highland had a combined team score of 370 strokes, 14 more than the winners from East Buchanan but 17 better than third-place Martensdale-St Marys. It would be Adisyn Prottsman who led the way for the Huskies by shooting a 14-over-par 86, helping her tie for fourth overall.

Fellow junior Emersyn Schultz was not far behind with an 89 and took eighth on the individual leaderboard, while senior Adeline Krotz added a 97 and freshman Joslyn Prottsman was only one stroke behind her.

Those scores would power Highland to a second straight trip to the Class 1A state tournament, where they finished third as a team a season ago. Hillcrest Academy’s Claire Withrow also played in the Region 4 finals and had a 97 to tie Krotz for 15th overall, but it would not be enough to earn the Ravens junior a bid to state.

A number of other area golf teams would compete in regional finals but come up just short of a trip to the state tournament. Winfield-Mount Union Wolves junior Kellee Milks shot a 102 to make the top 20 at Little Bear Country Club in Wyoming but would not advance out of 1A Region 5.

Junior Kinlee Brown would lead the Columbus Wildcats with a 101 as they finished seventh as a team in Region 5. Freshman Elizabeth Hora led the Washington Demons by firing a 109 at the Class 3A Region 4 tournament at Stone Creek Golf Club in Williamsburg.

While the other area teams are finished for the season, Highland will compete in the Class 1A state championships next Thursday and Friday at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown.