The No. 12 in Class 2A Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk girls golf team took the first step toward a return trip to state Friday with a first round Regional Tournament win at the Kalona Golf Course. The Golden Hawks shot a team score of 377, to get by second place Tipton by two strokes. Mid-Prairie leaders on the day included Olivia Swartzentruber in third overall with a 92, followed by Addison English fourth with a 93 and Morgyn Bender fifth with a 94. Lily Miller shot 98 and Delani Blum 114. Following the meet, the Hawks spoke with KCII Sports about the conditions, the win and their individual days.

English said, “It was very windy, but really nice outside. The greens were really quick. On the front nine I went with three pars in a row. I also had a few shots of the day that were close to being chip-ins. We knew throughout the whole year that Tipton and us were pretty close. Today we knew it would be pretty much between us two and we got it done.”

Blum said, “On hole five I drove the green and got Eagle on the front nine, on the back nine I birdied the same hole.”

Chittick continued, “On hole two I got a par on the front and back nine.”

Miller explained, “Number six on the back nine I pared. I had a 15 foot putt that I made. I knew after the front nine today that they (Tipton) was ahead of us by around four strokes. So I knew that on the back nine we had to get ahead!”

Swartzentruber said, “On my 18th hole of the day, I almost chipped it in and I gave myself a six-inch putt for par.”

With the victory, Mid-Prairie is now 45-5 this season. They travel to West Liberty Wednesday where a top two finish would send them to state for a school-record fourth straight season.