March 29, 2024

Area Roundup: PCM golfers win season openers

Image 1 of 2

The Prairie City-Monroe boys and girls golf teams both have high expectations for this season, and they got their seasons going on the proper note with victories on Tuesday.

The Mustang girls defeated Des Moines Christian and Eddyville-Blakesburg at Gateway Recreation in Monroe, while the boys topped Eddyville-Blakesburg at Harvest Point Golf Course in Oskaloosa.

Cassidy Van Veen earned individual medalist honors with a 50 for the Mustang girls, who took all six of the top varsity spots and shot a 210 to earn a 67-stroke victory over second-place Des Moines Christian. Finishing just behind her and shooting 52s were Rachel Phifer and Hannah Hugen, while Kelsey Van Veen came in with a 56, Maddie Peters had a 58 and Taylor Phifer rounded out the team’s scoring with a 59.

Makenna Van Veen also finished with a 52, but was playing for PCM’s B-team. Joining her on that team and shooting a 71 to beat out three varsity competitors from other schools was Taylor Thomas.

“Our girls struggled some with reading the greens, but overall I am very pleased with our results for a first meet,” PCM coach Val Edwards said. “This was a good test for our next meet at Chariton on Saturday for 18 holes.”

The Mustang boys had a little bit smaller of a field to deal with after fellow Jasper County school Lynnville-Sully decided not to compete, but it might not have mattered in the long run.

Senior Hunter Van Veen kicked his season off with individual medalist honors with a 33, and the Mustangs cruised to a score of 146 to defeat Eddyville-Blakesburg by 60 strokes.

Van Veen had two birdies and no bogeys to lead PCM, while Devon Woody came in next with a 37 and both Ryan Jennings and Justin Beener recorded 38s to give PCM the top four individual scores of the day. Michael Neff and Colten Jenkins rounded the team scoring out with a 40 and 48, respectively.

“I thought our boys played pretty good for really not getting on the course much this spring,” PCM coach Mike Smith said. “Throwing in a 45-degree day with a chilly wind made this score pretty good.

The Mustang girls will be back in action at an 18-hole invitational at Chariton, while the boys will resume their season next Monday at the Bondurant-Farrar invite in Altoona.