The Superior Express -

The Superior High girls golf team is back on the course after a hiatus of several years.

Three of the team members played with the boys team in the spring. When the decision was made to field a girls team for the fall, seven went out. The team held a series of fund raisers to purchase equipment such as uniforms, bags and carts. The important, intangible parts came from the members. They practiced over the summer, organized the team and remained focused.

The hard work and dedication was on display in their season opening event, the Central City Invitational.

The team played the scramble format match Thursday at the Valley View Golf Course at Central City.

Three golfers were entered in the A group: Emma Henderson, Rayne Biltoft and Haley Blackstone. The three combined for a score of 75. This was good for fourth place in the nine team field which included Grand Island Northwest, Heartland, Aurora, Columbus Lakeview, Central City, Fullerton, Exeter-Milligan, Grand Island Central Catholic and Tri-County. Superior is a Class C school while some of these schools are Class B.

Neah McMeen, Nadia McMeen and Lauren Tietjen earned a third place finish in the B group.

The team played an 18 hole stroke play match hosted by Doniphan-Trumbull Monday. The match was played at the Indian Head Golf Course in Grand Island. There were 10 teams in the field including Grand Island North West, Grand Island Central Catholic, Heartland, Doniphan-Trumbull, Hastings High School, Adams Central, Kearney Catholic, St. Paul and Arcadia-Loup City.

The team finished in fourth place with a team score of 429. The best four scores of the the five players are used to compute the team score. The team was playing against more A and B teams with long established programs.

Haley Blackstone brought home a medal for her ninth place finish with a score of 102. Emma Henderson carded a round of 105. Rayne Biltoft finished her round at 107. Neah McMeen closed out with a round of 115. Nadia McMeen played her round at 149.

Kirk Utecht, coach, said other coaches were impressed when they learned this was the first year for the team. He looks for continued improvement as the season progresses.

The team travels to Kearney today (Thursday) for the Kearney Catholic Invitational to be played over the Meadowlark Hills Golf Course.