An extra stroke here and a missed putt there was the difference in two conference dual matches as the Crestwood girls golf team split two make-up meets last week.
    The Cadets withstood high scores on the ninth hole at Silver Crest to nip Decorah, 207-209, last Tuesday, April 29, before falling to Oelwein by three strokes, 205-208, the following day. Both matches were scheduled earlier but were postponed because of the weather.
    The win at Decorah was the fourth in as many conference outings for the Cadet girls with the loss to Oelwein giving the girls a 4-1 league record.
    Against Decorah, Kayla Kubik continued her strong play in capturing medalist honors with a 49. Molly Engleman was only one stroke behind, thanks in part by coming home with a par on the par 3 eighth hole. Samantha Thomson and Caitlin Kelly rounded out the top four with a 53 and 55 respectively. Engleman shared medalist runner-up honors with Rylee Rollins of Decorah, which had individual scores of 50-52-53-54.
    Completing the top six for Crestwood were Abby Gooder with a 57 and Katie Malek with a 62.
    “We’re getting consistent scores from our top players,” pointed out Coach Tom Spindler. “Kayla, Molly, Samantha and Caitlin have led our team all year.”
    The ninth hole proved to be the most troublesome for the four Cadets as their combined score on the hole was 30, nearly eight strokes higher than the average on the other eight holes.
    Crestwood’s scores were almost identical against Oelwein with Kubik firing her second 49 of the week. Thomson added a 52 followed by Engleman with a 53 and Kelly with a 54. Kubik had to settle for medalist runner-up honors behind Jacklyn Smith of Oelwein, who came in with a 45. The other scores for Oelwein, which hosted the dual meet, were 51-54-55.
    “Oelwein is probably the team to beat at the (Northeast Iowa) Conference meet on Monday (May 5),” said Coach Spindler last week.
    Despite the loss, the Cadet coach was pleased with the scores turned in by his team. “This (Oelwein) is a long course – par 38 – as long as small college yardage, so our scores were not bad,” he said. “We just need to cut down on a couple of mistakes per round and we’re right there.”
    Going into last Monday’s conference meet, which was to be held at the Waukon course, Coach Spindler predicted a tight race. “The conference meet at Waukon should be close,” he said. “Most of the duals have been decided by just a few strokes, so who ever makes the fewest mistakes will be the winner.”
    Coach Spindler is looking for the Cadets to be in the mix. “We’ve finished first and second the last two years and our experience should make us one of the favorites,” he predicted.
    In the junior varsity matches last week, Crestwood came out on top against both conference opponents. The Cadets defeated Decorah, 232-276, and Oelwein, 254-264.
Against the Viking JV, Caitlin Kowalke and Brittany Holstrom each fired a 55, Tess Fosaaen a 57 and Sonni Slifka a 65. In the match against the Huskies, Fosaaen and Malek each fired a 58, Kelli Schmitz a 68 and Kowalke a 70.
    The conference tournament was to begin at 10 a.m., weather permitting. The results will be in next week’s edition of the newspaper.