Iowa's best high school girls golfers: Meet the state's top juniors

Some of the top juniors in Iowa girls prep golf

As the Iowa high school spring golf season winds down, we are taking a look at some of the top girls performers. Today, we highlight the juniors. This is not a comprehensive list as there are many outstanding prep golfers in Iowa. 

Eden Lohrbach, Gilbert 

Lohrbach, who won the Class 3A state title as a freshman, lost a three-hole playoff to Rylee Heryford of Newton for last season’s 3A medalist honors. Each shot 75-74—149 at River Valley Golf Course in Adel during regulation and Gilbert finished second as a team. Lohrbach averaged 74.63 for 18 holes as a sophomore and 38.83 for nine holes. She is off to a fast start this spring, with a 72 in her only 18-hole round and a nine-hole average of 35.25.

Meghan DeLong, Clear Lake

DeLong finished just four strokes away from joining Heryford and Lohrbach in the playoff for 3A medalist and ultimately wound up third at 82-81—163. Clear Lake captured the state team title by three shots over Gilbert. DeLong had an average of 78.89 for 18 holes and 40.20 for nine as a sophomore.

Isabella Pettersen, Iowa City Liberty

Petterson placed third individually in the Class 4A state meet last season, shooting 77-72—149 at Otter Creek in Ankeny. The 2022 Iowa Golf Association Junior Player of the Year has overcome the challenge of juvenile enthesitis arthritis to post third-place state finishes each of her first two high school seasons since moving to Iowa from Arizona.

Olivia Hines, Mediapolis

Hines finished third in the Class 2A state meet as a sophomore, firing a 72-81—153 at Pheasant Ridge in Cedar Falls. She was runner-up medalist in the Southeast Iowa Superconference tournament and medalist in both the first round and regional final last season. Not bad for a player who had never picked up golf club until three years ago.

Taylor Phillips, New London

Phillips tied for third in the Class 1A state meet as a sophomore, shooting 82-84—166 at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown. She was a 2022 All-Iowa girls golf pick by the Des Moines Register and was medalist at the Southeast Iowa Superconference meet. Phillips shot 76 in her only 18-hole round thus far this season and averages 40.75 for nine holes.

Makenna Carlson, Roland-Story

Carlson was third in the 2A state meet, shooting consistent rounds of 80 and 81 for 161. She tied for 10th in state as a freshman and helped Roland-Story to a runner-up team finish. Carlson had an average of 42.43 and a combined adjusted average of 43.28 as a sophomore and has averaged 79.50 in two 18-hole rounds this season.

McKenna Stackis, Western Dubuque

Stackis finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the 4A state meet as a sophomore last season, shooting 78-76—154. She was 16th in the state as a freshman and the All-Mississippi Valley Mississippi Division performer averaged 82.33 for 18 holes with a combined adjusted average of 43.43.

Jaisel Bott, Williamsburg

Bott is a two-time state qualifier who tied for fifth in last season’s 2A meet with a 164. The Wamac Conference West Division runner-up medalist and regional medalist averaged 88.83 per 18 holes with a combined adjusted average of 46.84.

Meera Julka, Cedar Rapids Xavier

Julka wound up ninth in the 3A state individual race last season with a 169 total over 36 holes. She has averaged 40.75 for nine holes thus far this season and 84.00 for 18 holes.

Kaylie Kelchen, Lisbon

Kelchen finished right behind Julka at 10th in the 3A state individual standings with a 170. The second-team all-state pick and Tri Rivers Conference East medalist averaged 87.6 for 18 holes and had a 45.97 combined adjusted average. Kelchen has averaged 42.43 in six nine-hole efforts this season.

Hannah Pettit, Waukee Northwest

Pettit tied for 10th at the 4A state meet, shooting 80-77—157. She had a 42.0 nine-hole average and combined adjusted average of 42.97 and was an all-region pick by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Ava Kalb, Dubuque Wahlert

Kalb tied for 12th in the 3A state meet last spring with a pair of 87s for 174. She was a second-team all-state pick by the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association after averaging 42.67 strokes per nine holes as a sophomore.

Brenna Bodensteiner, Waverly-Shell Rock

Bodensteiner also shot 174 and tied with Kalb for 12th in the 3A state meet. The two-time state qualifier averaged 85.67 in 18 holes last season with a combined adjusted average of 43.29.

Lauren Briggs, Burlington

Briggs tied for 13th at the 4A state meet as a sophomore, shooting 81-79—160. The Burlington standout averaged 79.88 for 18 holes and 40.0 for nine last season and has gotten off to a fast start to her junior season, with averages of 76.50 and 39.0. Briggs recently beat Taylor Phillips of New London in a playoff to win the Nike Invitational at Burlington after both shot 76 in regulation.

Payton Drefke, Ankeny Centennial

Drefke finished in a tie for 15th in the Class 4A state meet last season, carding 82-79—161. She has averaged 83.50 for 18 holes and 40.00 for nine and is one of the top performers in the CIML.

Haley Loonan, Gilbert

Loonan was 20th in the 3A state meet last season and is one of a number of returning players from Gilbert’s state runner-up squad. A highlight of her sophomore season was finishing as runner-up medalist to returning state champion Eden Lohrbach at the Gilbert Invitational.

Isabella Steele, Pleasant Valley

Steele finished in a tie for 29th place at the 4A state meet last spring. She has already carded a 74 in an 18-hole round this season and boasts averages of 77.33 and 40.50.

Amelia Habgood, Waukee Northwest

Habgood tied for 35th in the Class 4A state meet at the conclusion of her sophomore season. She has a nine-hole average of 46.75 with a combined adjusted average of 47.55.

Brooke Jackson, Newell-Fonda

Jackson helped her Newell-Fonda team qualify for the Class 1A state meet last season and the Mustangs wound up fifth. Jackson tied for 46th individually. She set a school record in winning the Twin Lakes Conference individual title as a freshman.

Mya Messenger, Cedar Rapids Washington

Messenger ranks 12th in all classes with a 40.90 combined adjusted average. She has a 39.67 nine-hole average. Messenger is also a member of the Washington girls tennis team.

Ansley Adams, Waukee

Adams has a nine-hole scoring average of 45.67 with a 47.10 combined adjusted average. She posted a pair of second-place finishes on the Iowa Junior PGA Tour and also tied for first in another event.

Macy Underwood, Gilbert

Yet another performer for the deep and talented Gilbert squad, Underwood was 24th in the Class 3A state meet as a sophomore. She tied for 12th in state as a freshman.

Maylin Coates, West Delaware

West Delaware is looking for a return trip to the 3A state meet and returns a number of key performers, including Coates, who was 25th individually last season. She finished the top 10 in both the Wamac Conference Super Meet and the Wamac East tournament and averages 46.00 with a combined adjusted average of 47.33.

Madison Bieri, Louisa-Muscatine

Bieri helped Louisa-Muscatine repeat as Southeast Super Conference North Division champions last season. She has averaged 46.00 in two nine-hole rounds this season and a combined adjusted average of 47.50.

Kaylee Newman, North Scott

Newman earned second team All-Mississippi Athletic Conference honors last season. She had a team-best 18-hole scoring average of 90 with a low of 82. In her only nine-hole round this season, she shot 43.