KP-RV's Jordyn Sitzmann qualifies for state golf competition as an individual

STORM LAKE – Jordyn Sitzmann’s streak of five consecutive golf events earning her medal honors has come to an end.

Still, it didn’t matter. The KP-RV junior qualified individually for the Class 1A girls golf tournament, earning a fourth-place finish out of 94 Wednesday in the Class 1A Region 1 tournament final at Lake Creek.

Sitzmann strung together nine-hole rounds of 44 and 50 for coach Val Sitzmann’s Panthers, who finished third in the final team standings with a 419, trailing state qualifiers Central Lyon (403) and Akron- Westfield (410).

This was the second year in a row that Coach Sitzmann’s team finished third in the Class 1A regional finals.

Sitzmann shot a 50 for the first time this season. Yet she has posted a 9-hole average of 43.6 since her medal streak began with a score of 44 in a triangular at the Brookside Course at Kingsley on April 23.

“It’s a little tougher course than (Sitzmann) is used to,” Coach Sitzmann said. “She was happiest during her first round. She had made a bogey, par, then she took that eight on the 16th, where she had trouble with a tree. I said, “You just have to finish strong.” She ended up, bogey.

“She was happy with that score as one could have been. Seeing Jordyn qualify for the state tournament, which has been her goal since she was a freshman, is nothing short of incredible. Now that she will be competing in the state tournament, she needs to get out and play golf. I think it will be a lot looser when we play next week.

The Class 1A state tournament will be held May 23-24 at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown.

The Panthers prepared for the regional final with a practice round two days earlier. Coach Sitzmann reported that his six linksters had better scores through 18 holes than in the practice round.

Aida Pratt shot a 107 (52-55) for the Western Valley Conference regular season and tournament champion, while Sydney Doeschot added a 108 (54-54). A 110 from Emma Sitzmann (54-56) concludes the score.

Pratt and Emma Sitzmann earned WVC first-team honors. Doeschot, a first-year varsity golfer, was a second-team all-WVC pick.

Myah Dausel (55-59-114) and Emma Dye (66-58-124) also competed.

Jordyn Sitzmann will return in 2025 with Pratt, Doeschot and Dye.

Emma Sitzmann is one of the graduates of Kingsley-Pierson High School this Sunday. Dausel will not be on next year’s team because River Valley will no longer be a sharing partner.

“This year’s team was such a blessing and such a surprise,” Coach Sitzmann said. “They rallied. Jordyn’s score counts. Emma’s score usually counts. I shot with the other four, who counted. I recruited JV girls.

“There hasn’t been as much stability among the top six. These girls, seeing how close they were, I knew it was going to be a dogfight for the top four teams. As excited as I am to go to state next week, I’m excited for next year because having four returners from a team that just missed out on a state berth, it’s going to be exciting.

Team scores: Central Lyon 403, Akron-Westfield 410, KP-RV 419, Alta-Aurelia 421, MMCRU 443, Harris-Lake Park 444, Westwood 446.